Book Review: “FROM IRELAND WITH LOVE” for Lyres and Harps, by John Billing
/[Reviewed by John Clark, Kilkenny, Ireland]
FROM IRELAND WITH LOVE for Lyres and Harps, by John Billing
Here in Ireland we talk a lot about “the living tradition”. We mean by this term that there is not only the performance of traditional and well known music from the folk tradition in nooks and crannies all over the country, but also the creation of new repertoire, sometimes with a quite modern twist, continually finding its way into the canon of Irish Traditional Music.
John Billing’s From Ireland with Love could fit very nicely into the above, but it is much more than just a very lovely tune for those of us playing lyre. In his excellently laid out edition he gives it in three versions so that it can be used in various ways by players of mixed ability in ensemble, as a duo, or by soloists.
Version 1 is the lovely melody alone on one staff, which fits nicely on soprano lyres and would tempt even the shyest lyre player.
Version 2 is fully realized on two staves with a steady “walking” bass, which fits on alto lyres with the gorgeous tune above on the treble clef as well as an added middle voice that fits on either soprano or alto lyres.
Version 3 is on one staff and could be played as a duo but is clearly intended to be a solo, fitting nicely on a Solo Lyre and marked lyre or harp. The two previous versions are marked lyres and harps.
In addition, all three versions have continental-style chord indications, with minor chords shown with lower case letters and major chords as upper case letters. An absolutely beautiful and useful piece!
To see From Ireland with Love and other PDF downloads, click here.
