Legend of the Irish Giant: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$48.00 USD

Legend of the Irish Giant: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Legend of the Irish Giant: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-39617
Price: 48.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Edward Kennedy

Grade: 1 (Very Easy)

Item: 00-39617

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Irish folklore brings us many versions of the legend of the Irish Giant called Finn McCool. This work, with its bold bass lines, fiery ostinatos, and modal themes, brings this great legend to life in music, painting the picture of the epic battle between Finn and Benandonner. This dynamic but accessible piece drives from start to finish and will surely capture the imagination of young bands and their audiences alike. (2:05) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.

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Series: Alfred Debut Series

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 122

UPC: 038081454832

SKU: 00-39617

More about this title

About the Composer: Edward Kennedy

Edward Kennedy trained in music education at the University of Southern Queensland and went on to earn a Master's degree in conducting from Salford University in Manchester. He holds advanced diplomas from Trinity College of Music London, including both Licentiate and Fellowship certifications. After immigrating from Belfast to Brisbane in 1986, Kennedy built a career as a music educator across schools and colleges in the UK and Australia, where he continues to work as a multi-instrumental educator and band director with the Queensland Education Department.

Kennedy remains active as a composer, arranger, conductor, and adjudicator, with a particular focus on brass and wind band music. His work draws on both his deep teaching experience and his hands-on familiarity with how young ensembles learn and perform.

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Why we love this

Kennedy crafts this legend with genuine theatrical flair without overcomplicating the ensemble parts. The combination of bold bass lines, modal themes, and driving ostinatos gives young conductors real musical material to shape and phrase, not just notes to get through. At Grade 1, it delivers genuine narrative momentum and audience appeal while respecting what developing musicians can actually execute.

What to expect

Mythic and propulsive. The music captures the sweep of an ancient legend with driving rhythmic energy, bold harmonic colors rooted in modal writing, and a vivid sense of battle and struggle. It feels alive and theatrical while remaining grounded in the instrumental capabilities of a beginning ensemble.

Who it's for

Young concert bands at the elementary and early middle school level who are ready for a piece with real musical personality and narrative thrust. Conductors seeking Grade 1 repertoire that engages both the ensemble and the audience without sacrificing musicality.

How to get the most out of it

Establish the ostinatos early in sectional rehearsals; lock them in as the foundation before layering melodic material over top.
Shape the modal themes with expressive phrasing rather than mechanical evenness. The Irish character emerges through subtle rubato and dynamic shaping.
Let the bass lines drive the narrative forward; they're far more than harmonic support, so balance them prominently in ensemble sound checks.
Underscore the contrast between quieter passages and the fiery sections by controlling dynamic peaks and valleys across the full two-minute arc.

How to use it

Program this as a concert opener or as the centerpiece of a thematic concert exploring folklore and storytelling through music. The two-minute duration and high energy make it ideal for building audience engagement early, or pair it with other character pieces to create a suite of short concert works that showcase different moods and musical styles.

Skills your students will build

sustaining modal harmonic language and recognizing tonal color shifts
locking ostinato rhythms across multiple parts while maintaining ensemble balance
shaping expressive phrasing within a driving, energetic tempo
balancing bass line prominence in concert band voicing
responding to conducting through dynamic and articulation contrasts