I always find Alyson Lewin’s arrangements of folk tunes satisfying to play and her latest Two Ulster Folk Songs are no exception. Arranged for descant, treble, 2 tenors and bass, these pieces were first performed at the 1999 SRP Festival. The two songs are TheStar of the County Down and Kitty of Coleraine, both well-known tunes. These arrangements could be tackled by good intermediate players who would find much enjoyment in playing them whilst finding some challenges in putting together the ensemble, as, for instance, getting the time change from 4/4 to 12/8 in The Star of the County Down and tackling the semiquavers in Kitty of Coleraine. Both pieces are definitely listenable to which makes them useful for inclusion in a concert. These arrangements will have an appeal both for the young player and the adult player and so will enhance the repertoire of any age of recorder group.
J.O.: Recorder Magazine, Summer 2000Back to Opening page
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