SKU: A0.750755

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art. Thou my best Thought, by day or by night, Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light

Be Thou My Vision is a traditional Christian hymn, which can be traced to Ireland but is now sung in English-speaking churches around the world and is often sung around St. Patrick’s Day.

The music is the Irish folk song, Slane referring to Slane Hill. Slane Hill is about ten miles from Tara in County Meath. It was on Slane Hill around 433 AD that St. Patrick defied a royal edict by lighting candles on Easter Eve. High King Logaire of Tara had decreed that no one could light a fire before Logaire began the pagan spring festival by lighting a fire on Tara Hill. Logaire was so impressed by Patrick’s devotion that, despite his defiance (or perhaps because of it), he let him continue his missionary work. The rest is history.

This arrangement is for a concert band with optional String parts if would like an orchestral arrangement! There is also a full orchestral arrangement.

The MP3 was recorded with NotePerformer 3 [Updated August 2021]

Grade = 3  Duration = 2:20 mins.

SKU: A0.750756

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art. Thou my best Thought, by day or by night, Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light

Be Thou My Vision is a traditional Christian hymn, which can be traced to Ireland but is now sung in English-speaking churches around the world and is often sung around St. Patrick’s Day.
​
The music is the Irish folk song, Slane referring to Slane Hill. Slane Hill is about ten miles from Tara in County Meath. It was on Slane Hill around 433 AD that St. Patrick defied a royal edict by lighting candles on Easter Eve. High King Logaire of Tara had decreed that no one could light a fire before Logaire began the pagan spring festival by lighting a fire on Tara Hill. Logaire was so impressed by Patrick’s devotion that, despite his defiance (or perhaps because of it), he let him continue his missionary work. The rest is history.
​
This arrangement is for full orchestra with two changes of key. Also available for Concert Band as well.

The MP3 was recorded with NotePerformer
Grade = 3   Duration = 2:22 mins.

SKU: A0.1182908

These dances from the opera/ballet, Acante et Cephise by Rameau date from 1741. The pair of dances are in da capo form and use the parallel minor. Thank you for looking.

SKU: A0.913624

 English Autumn  was composed in Fall/Winter 2018-2019 for Clarinetist Allison Eales commissioned by the Gregynog . Scored for Clarinet in A and String Trio it reflects the collage of Autumn colors:  Green, Yellow, Brown shades of first Autumn; Red, Orange of Autumn at its peak. It followed my English Sonatina for young clarinetists premiered by Alison Eales and Anna de Hair in London in January, 2019, and was premiered in London in October, 2019.

This piece reflects the heightened emotions of fiery intensity reflected in the changing of the colors of the leaves in Autumn. Reflected as well is the serene beauty before the Autumn arrives, and the resignation of the eternal cycles of nature. The opening section (Andante) evokes the feeling of nostalgia and assurance of the inevitable cycle of nature. We know the life will go from the tress only to return again next season. We feel the joy of the intense colors of the foliage, and the sadness of the loss of life in winter.

This section segues into Green (Adagio cantabile) with pastoral music and quotes of The Water is Wide and I pass all the hours in a shady grove of Pelham Humphrey. This leads into Red (Allegro con fuoco/Presto), followed by Orange (Declamando) as well as absence of color when the leaves all fall.

I pass all the hours is a song by Pelham Humphrey with words by Charles II: I pass all the hours in a shady grove …When I see the print of her shape in the green…I think there’s no hell like loving too well, The melody is incorporated because it is the same melodic motif of the Scherzando movement of my English Sonatina for young clarinetists which Alison Eales and Anna de Hair premiered. I discovered it after composing that piece in researching
English folk songs to refer to in this piece. It is an ideal segue into the Allegro con fuco/Presto
music.

The final section (Andante cantabile) is my personal melodic sequence from the rising motif
of Over the hills and far away.