The Wexford Carol: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Traditional Irish Carol / arr. Katie O'Hara LaBrie
Grade: 4
Item: 00-PK-0008787
$70.00
One moment…
Description
This traditional Irish carol opens with a solo for cello or violin (or soli for both) over a distant drone. The tune weaves throughout each section amidst beautiful countermelodies and simple meter changes. After a glorious key change, the music moves to a delicate close. An optional harp part adds color. The Wexford Carol, arranged by Katie O'Hara LaBrie, is guaranteed to be a stunning addition to your winter program or any time of year. (4:00)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, The Wexford Carol: 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.
Sample Audio
1
Audio File
--:--
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
Additional Details
Series:
MakeMusic Symphony Strings
Publisher:
MakeMusic Publications
SKU:
00-PK-0008787
More about this title
About the Composer: Katie O'Hara LaBrie
Katie O'Hara LaBrie is a composer, conductor, and cellist whose work grows directly from her experiences in the classroom. After 15 years teaching orchestra in Fairfax County, Virginia, she earned her Bachelor of Music in Music Education from St. Olaf College and her Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting from George Mason University. Her compositions prioritize what matters most to educators: music that teaches well, engages audiences, and gives players genuine joy in performing.
LaBrie's commitment to her craft has earned recognition including multiple J.W. Pepper Editor's Choice selections, performances at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Directors Clinic and ASTA Conference, and designation as one of Yamaha's "40 Under 40" in 2022. She founded the Fairfax Chamber Players and co-created "the Big IDEA" practice method. She continues to live and work in Fairfax, Virginia, where she draws inspiration from family, nature, and the students she encounters through her ongoing work in music education.
Why we love this
LaBrie's arrangement honors the carol's soaring melody while building in pedagogical scaffolding that younger orchestras can actually execute. The optional harp part and flexible solo assignment (cello, violin, or both) give you programming flexibility without sacrificing the arrangement's integrity. The meter changes and key shift arrive with clear musical purpose, making them feel organic rather than inserted for difficulty's sake.
What to expect
This carol unfolds like a gentle story told by firelight. The opening drone and solo create an intimate, almost timeless quality, while the interweaving countermelodies add warmth and depth. The key change brings a subtle surge of hope and brightness before the piece settles into a peaceful, reflective close.
Who it's for
Grade 4 string orchestras ready to tackle tasteful meter shifts and harmonic movement without overwhelming technical demands. Directors seeking repertoire that sounds sophisticated and moves audiences while remaining playable by developing ensembles.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the drone section with steady, resonant tone from your lower strings before the solo enters; this sets the atmospheric foundation the entire piece depends on.
- Balance the solo voice carefully against the accompaniment so the melody sings through without drowning out the countermelodies weaving beneath it.
- Shape the key change as a genuine harmonic lift; your ensemble should feel the brightness shift, not just move through the chord change mechanically.
- Let the delicate closing section breathe; resist the urge to rush as the texture thins and the piece settles into its final moments.
How to use it
Program this as the anchor of a winter concert, or use it to open a spring or fall program when you want to establish an elegant, reflective mood. It pairs beautifully with contemporary works or other traditional carols, and its four-minute duration makes it ideal for balancing longer pieces in your concert structure.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and executing meter changes (including simple meter shifts)
- Balancing solo and accompaniment textures
- Sustaining drone sections with consistent intonation and tone quality
- Responding to harmonic shifts and key changes as expressive moments
- Blending with countermelodies while maintaining individual line clarity