Star of the County Down: TTB Choral Octavo
Traditional Irish Tune (My Love Nell) / arr. Douglas E. Wagner
Level: Moderate
Item: 00-PO-0003087
$2.25
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
Your men will sound delightful and will really enjoy this traditional Irish tune. It's an ideal concert or festival work. This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Archive Edition: Studio PR Catalog
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
8
SKU:
00-PO-0003087
More about this title
About the Arranger: Douglas E. Wagner
Douglas E. Wagner trained at Butler University, where he earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees in music. Before becoming a full-time composer and arranger, he spent three decades as a high school music director and administrator, giving him deep insight into what works in rehearsal and performance.
Since 1973, Wagner has published over 3,500 compositions across choirs, bands, orchestras, handbells, organ, piano, and voice. His arrangements and original works have reached more than seventeen million copies worldwide, with performances documented on radio, television, and concert stages internationally. He lives in Indianapolis with his wife, Sandy.
Why we love this
Wagner's setting captures the warmth and singability that makes 'Star of the County Down' endure while keeping the voicing accessible for TTB ensembles. The arrangement respects the melody's folk character without overselling it, making this a piece your singers will genuinely want to perform multiple times through the season.
What to expect
Warm, approachable, and genuinely Irish without pretension. The arrangement lets the melody breathe naturally while the supporting voices create a gentle harmonic landscape that feels both traditional and well-crafted.
Who it's for
TTB choirs looking for a festival or concert piece with genuine character and immediate appeal. Directors who want their men's voices sounding full and engaged will find this traditional tune a reliable choice that doesn't require extensive rehearsal time.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the melody between your first tenors and baritones so the tune stays clearly audible. Secondary voices should support rather than compete.
- Approach the phrasing with a slight lilt that honors the Irish character without forcing a caricature. Let the natural speech rhythm of the text guide your tempo choices.
- Use the recorded accompaniment if available to establish harmonic context during early rehearsals, then build independence once voicing is secure.
How to use it
Program this early in a concert or as a lighter moment between more demanding works. It pairs well with other folk settings or secular repertoire and works equally effectively at festivals, invitational competitions, or community performances.
Skills your students will build
- Balancing melody and harmonic support across multiple voice parts
- Maintaining stylistic authenticity in folk song arrangements
- Ensemble intonation in tertian harmonies
- Shaping phrases with attention to text and musical line