Hills and Valleys (10 Duos) Set of Parts - Digital Sheet Music

SKU: A0.785015

Irish and Scottish traditional music cast its spell early on in the many years I have performed as part of a duo of violin and recorder, so it was inevitable that I would be drawn to create new arrangements for this intimate combination of instruments. Hills and Valleys contains ten traditional tunes selected from O’Neill’s Music of Ireland and The Gow Collection of Scottish Dance Music arranged as duos by Dorothy van Joolen Barth. These tunes are part of a larger anthology titled Green: Songs That Celebrate Our Natural World. The entire anthology is also available as a digital download. As an audio sample, The Fair Hills of Eire O! is provided here. These arrangements can be played on recorder and violin (which is how we play them), flute and violin, or two violins. If the upper part is played on recorder, the recorder player may switch between soprano, alto, and tenor recorders in accordance with the range and mood of each piece. We generally prefer the soprano recorder on the faster reels, jigs, and hornpipes and the tenor recorder (or sometimes the alto recorder) on the more lyrical pieces. In performing this music, I often devise new decorations, in keeping with Celtic tradition where no two performances of a piece are ever identical. You will likewise add your own meaning to this evocative music. Violinists can add authenticity by applying Irish and Scottish bowing techniques where applicable, which includes various slurring patterns. Such bowings have been kept to a minimum in this collection for recorder and violin, but the techniques are well worth exploring and developing. These pieces are delightful to perform for Celtic festivals, St. Patrick's Day celebrations, weddings, birthdays, and other theme events. May this music provide both player and listener with much enjoyment.