O'Carolan's Draught: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$50.00 USD

O'Carolan's Draught: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: O'Carolan's Draught: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-48079
Price: 50.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Turlough O'Carolan / arr. Andrew H. Dabczynski

Grade: 2.5

Item: 00-48079

Need it now?

Buy Digital Version

$50.00

Shipped

One moment…

Filled with enchanting melodies and harmonies, O'Carolan's Draught is a lyrical air by Ireland's beloved Baroque-era composer, Turlough O'Carolan, and arranged by Andrew H. Dabczynski. Truly a crossover piece, it is a tune often played by folk and classical musicians alike. An optional harp/piano part enhances this arrangement and makes it a centerpiece for any program for intermediate or advanced players. Correlated to String Explorer, Book 1, Unit 13. (4:40)

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, O'Carolan's Draught: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

Open in the Player

Jump straight in and assign it today.

Start Your Free Trial

Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.

Series: Highland/Etling String Explorer

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 140

UPC: 038081557106

SKU: 00-48079

More about this title

About the Composer: Andrew H. Dabczynski

Andrew H. Dabczynski served as Emeritus Professor of Music Education at Brigham Young University, where he established the BYU "New Horizons Orchestra" as both a performance ensemble for adult beginning string players and a training ground for string educators. His contributions to music education earned him BYU's Joseph E. White Fellowship for Teaching and Learning, and Utah ASTA recognized him in 2005 as Higher Education Teacher of the Year and again in 2014 for outstanding contributions to the field.

Dabczynski's career spans performance, teaching, and curriculum development across multiple institutions. He studied viola performance at the Eastman School of Music and earned a Ph.D. in Music Education from the University of Michigan. As a violist, he performed with regional orchestras including the Rochester Philharmonic, Hartford Symphony, and Portland Symphony, and served six years as a member of the Colden String Quartet at Western Michigan University. His deep knowledge of string pedagogy is reflected in the String Explorer method series, which he co-authored. A strong commitment to folk music and ethnomusicology has shaped his research and arrangements, blending traditional repertoire with pedagogical excellence.

Show moreShow less

Why we love this

Dabczynski brings his ethnomusicological expertise to this traditional Irish air, creating an arrangement that honors the tune's folk roots while serving the needs of intermediate string orchestras. The optional harp or piano part adds textural depth and gives the piece the presence of a concert centerpiece without compromising the accessibility that makes it work for students still building their technical foundation.

What to expect

O'Carolan's Draught opens with a gentle, unhurried lyricism that feels both timeless and intimate. The melody unfolds with the patient beauty of a tune that has been passed down through generations, inviting players and listeners alike into a reflective, contemplative space.

Who it's for

String orchestras at the Grade 2.5 level and above will find this arrangement well suited to their developing musicianship and technical range. The correlation to String Explorer, Book 1, Unit 13 makes it an ideal choice for programs using that method, though it stands alone as an excellent concert or festival selection for any intermediate to advanced string ensemble.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the phrasing around the natural contours of the melody rather than letting it fall into a rhythmic pattern; this air is meant to sing, not march.
Balance the inner voices carefully so they support rather than compete with the violin line; the arrangement rewards ensemble listening.
If using the harp or piano part, rehearse the string players with it early; the added color will shift how you approach dynamics and tone quality throughout.
Approach this as performers of a living tradition, not museum pieces; the folk and classical musicians who have kept this tune alive played it with their own voice.

How to use it

Program this as a poignant interlude in a mixed concert, perhaps between more energetic showpieces; it will rebalance the emotional arc of your program. It also works beautifully in a folk or world music themed concert, offering classical string players a gateway into understanding arranged traditional music.