In the Ross of Mull Brass Quintet - Digital Sheet Music

SKU: A0.1859781

Mary MacDonald (1789–1872), poet and hymn writer, lived in Bunessan, a village on the Ross peninsula of the island of Mull, Scottland. Her language was Gaelic; she spoke no English. Sometime probably in the 1840s, Mary authored the poem “Leanabh an Àigh.” Set to a traditional Gaelic Scottish folk melody, her hymn remained unpublished until 1888. That year Lachlan Macbean included it in his Songs and Hymns of the Gael, translating its title as “Child of the Manger” and naming the tune Bunessan. In 1931, Eleanor Farjeon used the Bunessan tune as the melody for her hymn "Morning Has Broken," which, forty years later, was widely popularized when Cat Stevens recorded it.

This composition, “In the Ross of Mull,” is based on that Scottish folk melody. It begins with the original Bunessan tune then expands on it with additional airs based on those on those opening eight phrases. The opening time signature is 9/4, the key is C Major and the tempo marking suggests a rather slow walking speed. During the course of its 137 measures, this piece changes key twice (to A Major, then G. Major), tempo twice (to adagietto and allegro) and time signature 14 times. Yes, you read that correctly: 14 times, including 3/4, 4/4, 6/4, 9/4 and 12/4. Performance time is about 6.3 minutes.

The composer, Les Smith, will be happy to provide substitute parts (for example, treble clef baritone for trombone) at no charge. He would like to receive your suggestions, comments, corrections and criticisms. Contact him at [email protected]. For more arrangements by Les, enter "Sweetwater Brass Press" (without the quotation marks) in the Sheet Music Plus or Sheet Music Direct search box.