The Parting Glass: Baritone T.C.
Arranged by Robert Sheldon
Grade: 2.5
Item: 00-PC-0019202_BTC1
$3.00
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Description
This heartfelt rendition of the beautiful Irish folk song The Parting Glass, arranged by Robert Sheldon, is as playable as it is expressive. The various instrumental colors and unexpected harmonies provide moments of warmth, reverie, sentimentality, angst, and resolve that appeal to audiences and ensembles with moderate to advanced abilities. (3:40)
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Sample Audio
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Additional Details
Series:
Young Symphonic
Publisher:
Alfred Music
SKU:
00-PC-0019202_BTC1
More about this title
About the Composer: Robert Sheldon
Robert Sheldon stands among the most frequently performed composers in wind band repertoire. His works appear on contest and concert programs internationally, and he has received significant recognition from the American School Band Director's Association, Phi Beta Mu, and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.
Beyond composition, Sheldon is deeply engaged in music education as lead author of Sound Innovations for Concert Band and as a sought-after clinician and guest conductor. He has worked with ensembles and presented at institutions across the United States, Japan, Canada, Italy, Germany, Australia, and China. His compositions have been performed at Carnegie Hall, Orchestra Hall, Symphony Hall, the Sydney Opera House, and the Kennedy Center. In 2020, VanderCook College of Music awarded him an honorary doctorate.
Why we love this
Sheldon captures the emotional arc of this Irish folk standard without overwhelming intermediate ensembles. The Grade 2.5 scoring allows genuine musical expression through instrumental color and harmonic richness, making it equally suited to concert programming and festival competition. Directors appreciate how the arrangement builds from quiet reflection to full-band resonance while remaining technically accessible.
What to expect
The Parting Glass unfolds with the intimacy of a folk melody reimagined through a concert band lens. Sheldon weaves moments of tender reverie alongside passages of deeper, more complex emotion, creating a soundscape that feels both familiar and freshly expressive. The 3:40 duration allows sufficient time to explore the full emotional palette without overstaying the welcome.
Who it's for
Concert bands at the intermediate to advancing level seeking a piece that offers genuine musicianship without extreme technical demands. Ensembles preparing for festival competition or looking for programming that resonates with both audiences and players will find this arrangement particularly rewarding.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the varied instrumental colors throughout. When Sheldon shifts thematic material between sections, ensure each color emerges clearly without drowning out the ensemble.
- Shape the melodic line with attention to the emotional journey. This piece moves through multiple moods; let phrasing reflect those shifts rather than treating it as a straight march.
- Lock in the harmonic foundation early in rehearsal. The unexpected harmonies Sheldon uses require precise chord balance to land with the warmth he intended.
- Control dynamics carefully in the quieter passages. Restraint in volume will make the full-band moments land with greater impact.
How to use it
Program this early in a concert to establish an reflective mood, or place it mid-set as a moment of contrast against more energetic repertoire. Its accessibility and emotional directness also make it a strong contest selection for bands wanting to demonstrate musicality and control alongside technical facility.
Skills your students will build
- Phrasing and shaping melodic lines through multiple harmonic contexts
- Listening for and balancing instrumental color in scored arrangements
- Responding to unexpected harmonic movement while maintaining ensemble cohesion
- Controlling dynamics in both intimate and full-ensemble passages