Irish Dance Suite (2016, rev. 2017/2019)

for String Orchestra

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Composed May - June, 2016, revised 2017/2019, in 4 movements

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15 Minutes

 

Premiere:

Mission Chamber Orchestra; Emily Ray conducting - September 21, 2019

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Subsequent performances:

Toledo Symphony Orchestra; Enrico Lopez-Yañez conducting  - March 13-14, 2021

St. Thomas String Orchestra; Dr. Matthew George conducting (4th movement only) - May 9, 2021

Canton Symphony Orchestra; Gerhardt Zimmermann conducting  - November 14, 2021

WMEA All State Symphony Orchestra; Dr. Sergio Espinosa conducting  - February 20, 2022

DISD All City Orchestra; Quinn Mason conducting (4th movement only)  - September 24, 2022

Arizona State University Philharmonia; Julie Desbordes conducting - September 30, 2022

CASMEC High School All-State String Orchestra; Dr. Selim Giray  conducting (first movement only) - February 4, 2024

Western Washington University String Sinfonia; Dr. James Ray conducting - March 11, 2024

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Program Notes:

I conceived the idea for the Irish Dance Suite when one day, accidentally, I checked out a Mary O’Hara (a singer of traditional Irish music) album from my school’s library. I remember listening to it and going, ‘Hmm. These themes are very catchy. They would work well in a suite together!’ Designed after the string suites of Holst and in 4 movements, some popular forms of traditional Irish dance are represented including the jig, the slip jig and the reel. The piece utilizes 4 traditional Irish tunes (Wind that Shakes the Barley, Drops of Brandy, Reel with the Beryle and Haigh Didil Dum), and the rest of the themes are original compositions.