Julia Delaney's Reel

Description

Violin 1, Violin 2, Violin 3, Viola, Cello, Contrabass, Piano — Julia Delaney’s Reel is one of over 1,500 Irish folk songs catalogued by Francis O’Neill in 1931 and subsequently donated to the University of Notre Dame. Born in Ireland, O’Neill moved to Chicago, where he became Chief of Police in 1901. O’Neill’s library of Irish history and music, which includes airs, double jigs, slip jigs, hornpipes, long dances, marches and reels, has become a valuable addition to the university’s rare book collection.The Irish Reel (step-dance) is a lively dance in simple duple meter or in cut time, as in this arrangement of the Julia Delaney’s Reel. The four-measure, repeated percussion introduction (snares off, finger cymbals) establishes the energy and forward motion that persist throughout the piece. The exception is the quiet and broadly played section at mm. 56-86, only to return to the lively eighth- note figures at m. 91. Julia Delaney’s Reel should be played with all the vigor- ous and unrestrained enthusiasm of an authentic “fidd’lin” tune. An extremely popular Irish Reel that has been heard in movies and television can be heard in this fantastic setting for string orchestra. With fun parts for every section, students will love to play this rip-roaring tune. Composer Carl Strommen infuses a nice lyrical middle section to give the piece some much-needed repose before firing up again into a rousing ending. This will be the highlight of your next concert, and students will want to play this challenging piece again and again.

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