Two Songs from Sommerset: String Orchestra Conductor Score

Martin takes two English folk melodies with genuine historical roots and arranges them with enough musical substance to hold a concert stage, yet keeps the writing accessible enough for Grade 3 orchestras. The contrast between the lyrical sweep of "Waly, Waly" and the infectious lightness of "Blow Away the Morning Dew" gives you a complete program piece in under two minutes, making it ideal for festivals where you need impact without overwhelming rehearsal demands.

You move from the reflective, water-like flow of "Waly, Waly"—where the melody unspools with lyric beauty and older English sensibility—into the buoyant energy of "Blow Away the Morning Dew," which bounces with folk-dance joy. The two pieces feel like chapters in the same musical journey through Somerset's folk heritage, complete in themselves yet complementary in mood.

String orchestras at the early intermediate level who want a genuine concert piece with folk roots. This works equally well for school orchestras preparing for festival or contest and for community ensembles looking to program something with immediate musical appeal and English cultural substance.

• Balance the flowing melodic lines in "Waly, Waly" so the tune sings through regardless of which section carries it; the arrangement likely passes the melody between voices, so watch for smooth handoffs rather than sudden drops in tone.
• Keep "Blow Away the Morning Dew" rhythmically crisp and forward-moving; the lightness comes from clarity of articulation and rhythmic precision, not from playing loosely.
• Shape the dynamic arc of each song as a complete thought rather than rehearsing them in isolation; the contrast between the two pieces is part of what makes the arrangement effective.

Open a concert with this pairing to establish a welcoming, accessible tone before moving into more demanding repertoire. It also serves as an excellent festival entry when you need a self-contained, confident performance that sits squarely at Grade 3 without sounding simplistic. The sub-three-minute length makes it flexible for mixed concert formats.

• Sustaining legato singing lines across full phrases
• Balancing melody and accompaniment across multiple string parts
• Executing rhythmic clarity and articulation in lighter character music
• Responding to contrasting moods and tempos within a single work