North of England Folk Song Suite | trad. arr. Alwyn Green

An excellent concert piece of three traditional but contrasting songs, a love poem, a song of longing and loss, and a quick jaunty celebration of traditional life.

The Sweet Lass of Richmond Hill from Yorkshire is a love ballad. The lass is Frances l’Anson, whose parents disapproved of her chosen love, and the couple eloped. The piece popularised the poetic phrase – A Rose without a Thorn.

The Oak and the Ash from Lancashire is a traditional song comparing town and country life – a very popular theme in the 17^th century. A girl from the North of England has moved to London to find a husband, but she is lonely in the city and wishes she could be home again – ‘O the Oak and the Ash and the bonny Elum tree, they’re all growing green in the North Country’

The Keel Row from Northumberland is a traditional folk song evoking the life and work of the Keelmen of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and with it’s quick light beat it is used as the trot march for the Life Guards and the Royal Horse Artillery.

Instrumentation
Soprano, Solo, Repiano, 2nd and 3rd Cornets
Flugelhorn
Solo, 1st and 2nd Tenor Horns
1st and 2nd Baritone
1st, 2nd and Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Eb and Bb Basses
Percussion parts (2):
1: Timpani, Glockenspiel, Cymbal, Sleigh Bells, Maracas
2: Drum Kit, Gong, Side Drum

ISMN: 979-0-708127-02-4