Folk Arrangements for Elementary Orchestra
The following scores are provided courtesy of Alan Cutts, lecturer in orchestration at the CIT Cork School of Music.
The degree course in the school is 4 yearsʼ long. In 2nd year, students are given a chance to try their hand at simple orchestration. A major part of their work on that module is to make their own arrangement of a folk melody using an ensemble of strings in 5 parts, unison flutes, unison clarinets and piano, with a little simple percussion if they wish. They are asked to keep the parts within Grade 3, except for the piano, which can go to Grade 5. (You are warned, though, that the pieces may in fact need players a grade or two higher than that.)
Most of the arrangements have had a few changes made by Alan in order to smooth out the texture or make the parts more playable for younger players. In a few cases, where the piece is jointly attributed to Alan, he has taken the ideas of a student and reworked them to their potential.
For those who might want to create parts for extra or different instruments, Finale files for the scores and parts are available from Alan by contacting him through his web site at alancutts.ie or through the CIT Cork School of Music.
A booklet containing the full set of scores is available from the IAYO Office.
Gywr Harlech (Men of Harlech): Welsh, arr. Fiona McDonnell (2006)
Arranged for flutes, clarinets, piano and strings.
Full Score (Transposing) (Concert Pitch)
Download (mp3) (Score and parts)
On Raglan Road : Irish, arr. Hugh Murray (2009)
Arranged for flutes, clarinets (in A or Bb), piano and strings.
Full Score (Transposing) (Concert Pitch)
Download (mp3) (Score and parts)
Siúl A Ghrá (Come away, my love): Irish, arr. Aoife Morris (2006)
Arranged for flutes, clarinets, piano and strings.
Full Score (Transposing) (Concert Pitch)
Download (mp3) (Score and parts)
Guantanamera: Cuban, arr. Sam Perkin
Arranged for flute, clarinet, congas, piano and strings.
Full Score (Transposing)
Download (mp3) (Score and parts)
Birds’ Wit: Norwegian, arr. Paul O’Connor (2011)
Arranged for flutes, clarinets (in A or Bb), glockenspiel, piano and strings.
Full Score (Transposing) (Concert Pitch)
Download (mp3) (Score and parts)
Mr Dowland’s Midnight: John Dowland, arr. Patrick O’Connor (2009)
Arranged for flutes, clarinets, piano and strings.
Full Score (Transposing) (Concert Pitch)
Download (mp3) (Score and parts)
Déirin Dé: Irish, arr. Clare Heffernan (2010)
Arranged for flutes, clarinets (in A or Bb), piano and strings.
Full Score (Transposing) (Concert Pitch)
Download (mp3) (Score and parts)
El Condor Pasa (The Condor Passes): Peruvian, arr. Oisín McGill (2006)
Arranged for flutes, clarinets (in Bb), castanets, piano and strings.
Full Score (Transposing) (Concert Pitch)
Download (mp3) (Score and parts)
Song of Yao Zu: Chinese, arr. Fen Long (2005)
Arranged for flutes, clarinets (in Bb), piano and strings.
Full Score (Transposing) (Concert Pitch)
Download (mp3) (Score and parts)
The Boys of Fairhill: Irish (Cork), arr. Jack Kenefick & Alan Cutts (2008)
Arranged for flutes, clarinets, piano and strings.
Full Score (Transposing) (Concert Pitch)
Download (mp3) (Score and parts)
Phil the fluter’s ball: Irish, arr. Eleanor Ní Chonchúir (2006) (and Alan Cutts)
Arranged for flutes, clarinets (in A or Bb), piano and strings.
Full Score (Transposing) (Concert Pitch)
Download (mp3) (Score and parts)
Carrigfergus: Irish, arr. Marita Murray (2005)
Arranged for flutes, clarinets (in A or Bb), piano and strings.
Full Score (Transposing) (Concert Pitch)
Download (mp3) (Score and parts)
The Cuckoo: Austrian, arr. Sarah Maxwell (2010)
Arranged for flutes, clarinets (in A or Bb), piano and strings.
Full Score (Transposing) (Concert Pitch)
Download (mp3) (Score and parts)
Crested Hens: French, arr. Alice Fitzgibbon (2010)
Arranged for flutes, clarinets (in A or Bb), glockenspiel, piano and strings.
Full Score (Transposing) (Concert Pitch)
Download (mp3) (Score and parts)
Troika: Russian (Prokofiev), arr. John O’Duffy & Alan Cutts (2011)
Arranged for flutes, clarinets (in A or Bb), glockenspiel, piano and strings.
Full Score (Transposing) (Concert Pitch)
Download (mp3) (Score and parts)
River Wisla: Polish, arr. Conor Palliser (2007)
Arranged for flutes, clarinets (in Bb), glockenspiel, piano and strings.
Full Score (Transposing) (Concert Pitch)
Download (mp3) (Score and parts)
Maidrín Rua (Little Fox): Irish, arr. Anna Jane Ryan (2006) & Alan Cutts
Arranged for flutes, clarinets (in A or Bb), piano and strings.
Full Score (Transposing) (Concert Pitch)
Download (mp3) (Score and parts)
