The Rakes of Mallow (from the Irish Suite): Score
By Leroy Anderson
Grade: 4 (Medium)
Item: 00-PR-0001672
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Description
Re-released this year, this Leroy Anderson classic work typifies his musical genius. Freshly engraved with a full score for the first time, Anderson's own arrangement of the third movement from his Irish Suite is full of excitement and energy. Three movements of the six-movement suite are now available for concert band. The remaining three movements will be released in 2010. Performable as a stand-alone work, or in tandem with the rest of the movements. (I. The Irish Washerwoman - item 83181 and IV. The Wearing of the Green - item 30835)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, The Rakes of Mallow (from the Irish Suite): Score comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Leroy Anderson Classics
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
242
SKU:
00-PR-0001672
More about this title
About the Composer: Leroy Anderson
Leroy Anderson (1908-1975) stands as one of America's most performed composers, known for his gift for melody and orchestration that could make audiences smile without sacrificing musicianship. His arrangements and compositions for band, orchestra, and film earned him a place in the American musical canon, blending classical technique with popular appeal in ways that felt effortless.
Why we love this
Anderson's knack for writing music that sounds spontaneous yet is meticulously crafted shines through in this arrangement. The freshly engraved score makes the orchestration crystal clear, and the piece delivers immediate audience engagement without requiring advanced technical demands from your ensemble. It's a crowd-pleaser that respects both the players and the listener.
What to expect
Spirited and Irish in character, the piece captures the energy of a country dance with a mischievous lilt. The orchestration sparkles; Anderson's gift for melody and his understanding of band sonorities create moments that feel both intimate and celebratory, inviting the listener into something both familiar and freshly imagined.
Who it's for
Concert bands at the Grade 4 level will find this work both accessible and rewarding. It suits ensembles looking to program folk-inspired music with genuine charm and polish, and it works equally well for conductors introducing students to arrangements that showcase orchestral color and balance.
How to get the most out of it
- Keep the tempo buoyant and dance-like; resist slowing down in the busier sections, as the rhythmic drive is essential to the piece's character.
- Balance the melodic lines carefully so the folk tune remains clearly audible even when accompaniment figures layer beneath it.
- Articulate the staccato passages crisply to enhance the lighter, more playful sections without losing their musical connection.
How to use it
Program this as a standalone opener or closer to bring audiences into a lighter frame of mind, or pair it with the other movements from the Irish Suite (The Irish Washerwoman and The Wearing of the Green) for a thematic evening that explores folk tradition through an American composer's lens. Its moderate length and appeal make it an ideal palate cleanser between heavier contemporary works.
Skills your students will build
- Playing lyrical melodies with shape and direction over accompaniment figures
- Balancing multiple harmonic layers in a sectional arrangement
- Executing clean articulation and rhythmic precision in folk-style material
- Reading a full conductor score alongside individual parts
- Understanding how orchestration creates color and texture on concert band instruments