Sheebeg and Sheemore: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$56.00 USD

Sheebeg and Sheemore: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Sheebeg and Sheemore: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-18855
Price: 56.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Turlough O'Carolan / arr. Michael Hopkins

Grade: 3

Item: 00-18855

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This beautiful arrangement of the Irish folk tune is an excellent piece for developing legate playing and dynamic contrast. Featuring solos for Violin l, Violin ll, Viola and Cello, this very playable work uses a wide variety of textures and colors that will give your orchestra a rich, mature sound. Gorgeous!

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

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Series: Highland/Etling String Orchestra

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 124

UPC: 038081174570

SKU: 00-18855

More about this title

About the Composer: Turlough O'Carolan

Turlough O'Carolan (1670, 1738) was an Irish harper and composer who stands as one of the most significant figures in Irish music history. Born blind, he became renowned throughout Ireland and Europe for his ability to improvise and compose melodies of remarkable sophistication, blending Irish folk idioms with European baroque harmonic sensibilities.

O'Carolan's legacy rests on over 200 compositions that preserve the character of Irish music while demonstrating genuine compositional craft. His work became foundational to the Irish musical tradition, and his melodies remain central to fiddle and uilleann pipe repertoires today. For string orchestras, his tunes offer an ideal bridge between folk authenticity and concert-hall arrangements.

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Why we love this

Hopkins's arrangement captures the lyrical warmth of O'Carolan's melody while giving each section genuine solo moments that showcase individual players. The textural variety keeps the piece engaging across 124 pages of score and parts, and the emphasis on legato playing and dynamic shaping produces a musical maturity that audiences consistently respond to.

What to expect

This arrangement unfolds like a conversation among friends, with different voices taking the melody and others providing warm, supportive harmonies. The Irish character remains gentle and lyrical throughout, never forced or sentimental, with moments of quiet beauty that reward attentive listening.

Who it's for

String orchestras at the Grade 3 level who are ready to move beyond technical exercises into expressive, music-focused playing. Directors seeking accessible yet genuine repertoire that develops mature sound production will find this especially valuable.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the solo passages with the same care you'd give to a chamber music performance; each instrument carries the narrative forward and needs breathing room, not just rhythmic accuracy.
Use dynamic contrast as your primary expressive tool. The folk tune lives in the contrast between intimate passages and fuller orchestral moments, so resist the urge to play at a constant level.
Balance the multiple solo lines carefully. When violin I and cello carry simultaneous material, ensure they're truly conversing rather than competing for attention.
Let the legato singing style inform your approach to rhythm section accompaniment. The violas and cellos set a warm, flowing harmonic bed that supports the soloists without hurrying.

How to use it

Use this piece as a centerpiece for a folk-inspired concert, pairing it with other Celtic or traditional music arrangements to create thematic coherence. The contest/festival designation makes it a strong choice for adjudicated festivals where judges reward musicality alongside technical competency.