Long live the king and courtier too
Songs from their castles brought to you
English, Irish, and Scottish sheet music arrangements for violin and recorder/flute
or two violins
Selected and arranged by Dorothea Barth
When I completed Maidens of Melody early in 2008, I’d already discovered abundant material for a second volume of “Maiden” arrangements. Then the Muse of Balance paid a visit to remind me that it would be as intriguing to arrange a volume of Old English and Celtic music featuring kings, courtiers, and their castles.
As in Maidens of Melody, I drew from the Playford Dance Master andO’Neill’s Collection of Irish Music for the melodies. I’ve also included in this volume tunes from the Gow Collection of Scottish Dance Music, another rich source book for lovers of Celtic music. I’ve endeavored to keep the melodies true to their source, though I granted myself liberty to switch the tune between the two instruments, change the octave, and add embellishments on the repeats--something that would also be done in spontaneous performance.
As in the previous collection, these arrangements were conceived for recorder and violin but may also be adapted to flute and violin or two violins. In this volume, the suggested recorder range is indicated, but the seasoned recorder player may experiment with different ranges. We prefer the soprano recorder (which sounds an octave higher than written) on reels, jigs, and hornpipes and the tenor (or alto recorder depending on range) for slower, lyrical pieces.
May Of Castles, Kings, and Courts reign with wisdom at Renaissance and Celtic Fairs as well as at period weddings, and may this music provide you with much enjoyment! "
The sheet music for Of Castles, Kings, and Courts is available as a digital download through Sheet Music Plus.
A digital CD of this music was released on July 31, 2015 and is available through iTunes and Amazon as well as all streaming platforms. Watch the CD release video below.
- Of Castles, Kings and Courts CD Release Video
