Belle of Belfast 4-Part - Sheet Music

SKU: AN.AMP-0387

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Belle of Belfast

Editorial notes by Ray Wallace, D.A.

School children learn this song in a variety of venues. First, the song is still heardin the villages, towns, and cities of Ulster (the northern counties of Ireland), andthe Belle of Belfast has achieved folkloric stature with its multi-generationalacceptance and acquisition. Young girls use it as a rope-skipping song, and youngboys usually learn it from their older sisters. However, it is also formally taught inelementary (or primary) schools allover the North. Music is taught at allelementary schools in Ulster, most would have formal choirs, and thus manyschool children at this level would certainly have this piece in their repertoire.

The Belle of Belfast is also heard at sporting events, especially at soccer matches(football games). As in America, fans generally follow their local teams, but onestriking point about the Belle of Belfast is that it is performed publicly by fans fromall over the province, and, in fact, is more likely to be heard outside Belfast thanwithin the city confines. In addition, it is also sung publicly at international sportingevents by fans supporting Northern Irish and/or Ulster teams in soccer and rugby.Politically, the Belle of Belfast is also situated in an interesting spot in NorthernIrish culture. While the piece is certainly performed by Protestant marching bands(especially flute and accordion bands) during the July marches celebrating adecisive battle in 1690, Catholic marching bands also perform it is a similarceremony in August each year. However, people from Northern Ireland, regardlessof religious or political division are just as likely to sing this song at their localpubs!