Molly on the Shore, Irish Reel from British Folk Music Settings, No. 1a (arr.) Cover Image

Molly on the Shore, Irish Reel from British Folk Music Settings, No. 1a (arr.): Full Orchestra, Ensemble Works, Score and Parts (EDWIN F KALMUS)

$85.00 USD
$85.00 USD
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Molly on the Shore, Irish Reel from British Folk Music Settings, No. 1a (arr.) Cover Image
Molly on the Shore, Irish Reel from British Folk Music Settings, No. 1a (arr.): Full Orchestra, Ensemble Works, Score and Parts (EDWIN F KALMUS)

Molly on the Shore, Irish Reel from British Folk Music Settings, No. 1a (arr.): Full Orchestra, Ensemble Works, Score and Parts (EDWIN F KALMUS)

By Percy Aldridge Grainger

Item: 36-A725190
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Molly on the Shore, Irish Reel from British Folk Music Settings, No. 1a (arr.): Full Orchestra, Ensemble Works, Condensed Score (EDWIN F KALMUS)

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Description
Percy Grainger's (1882-1961) love for music of the simple rural folk of the British Isles led to a series of forty-three pieces that he grouped into a series called "British Folk-Music Settings", including this title as No. 23. Grainger produced at least six versions of this folk tune arrangement of two contrasting Irish Reels ("Temple Hill" and "Molly on the Shore"), including this version for full orchestra which he completed in 1914. Instrumentation: 2(2nd dPicc).2.2.2: 4.2.3.1: Timp.Perc(2-3): Clst: Str (9-8-7-6-5 in set): Pno Cond. in set. Includes transposed Clarinet and Trumpets parts. Reprint edition.

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Additional Details
Series: Kalmus Symphonic Pops
Publisher: Keiser Productions, Inc.
UPC: 605258535542
SKU: 36-A725190
Instrumentation: 2(2nd dPicc).2.2.2: 4.2.3.1: Timp.Perc(2-3): Clst: Str (9-8-7-6-5 in set): Pno Cond. in set

More about this title

About the Composer: Percy Aldridge Grainger

Percy Grainger (1882-1961) was an Australian-born composer and pianist who became fascinated by the folk music traditions of Britain and Scandinavia. He made field recordings and collected thousands of folk tunes, approaching them not as museum pieces but as living musical material worthy of sophisticated orchestral treatment. His arrangement practice was experimental and prolific; he created multiple versions of the same folk tune across different instrumental combinations, constantly refining his approach to balance authenticity with orchestral color.

Why we love this

Grainger's orchestration of this Irish reel sparkles with orchestral invention without overwhelming the melody's essential character. The interplay between the two contrasting reels gives orchestras a chance to showcase rhythmic precision and sectional independence, and the score rewards careful attention to Grainger's specific articulation and dynamic markings, which are central to the piece's charm.

What to expect

The piece dances with irreverent energy, full of unexpected orchestral touches that surprise and delight. The two Irish reels spin past each other with the warmth of a folk session translated into concert dress, never stuffy or academic despite Grainger's careful compositional hand.

Who it's for

Orchestras at the intermediate to advanced level who want a genuinely engaging piece that sits well on a pops or family concert but also rewards serious musical attention. This works for orchestras comfortable balancing rhythmic drive with textural sophistication.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the woodwind doublings carefully; Grainger layers instruments to create color, not volume, so the tune should remain transparent throughout the orchestration.
  • Lock the articulation of the reel rhythms across string and wind sections. The traditional feel depends on crisp, uniform attacks on the characteristic short-long rhythmic patterns.
  • Shape each eight-bar phrase as a complete unit. The two reels work as contrasts, so find distinct character in the first reel before the second one arrives.
  • Observe Grainger's instrumentation changes between the A and B sections; these shifts are compositional choices that clarify structure, not accidental doublings.

How to use it

Program this alongside other folk-inspired orchestral works to create a thematic concert, or use it as a rousing closer that connects your orchestra to broader repertoire traditions. The modest instrumentation and accessible folk melody make it perfect for pops concerts or community engagement events where you want something genuinely musical, not merely popular.

Skills your students will build

  • Maintaining rhythmic clarity and articulation precision in traditional reel patterns across multiple sections
  • Reading transposed parts (B-flat clarinet and trumpet included)
  • Balancing layered instrumentation where multiple voices carry related material simultaneously
  • Responding to orchestrational color changes as structural signposts

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