Description

Instrumentation: Flute 1, Flute 2 / Descant Recorder, Clarinet in Bb, Violin, Accordion / Piano / Guitar, Cello and / or Bass

This is a further arrangement of folk tunes: four reels. Ideal as folk band music and for GCSE / KS4 ensembles, three are traditional and the other is one I wrote in the 1980s.

A simple bass line is provided but this can be embellished if required. It is intended that the accordion player would, of course, play the melody line and the chords. A pianist could do the same or just provide a vigorous vamp to encourage the dancers. Guitarists should strum the chords with a real feel for the music’s lift.

Although the arrangement is for the same group of instruments used for the majority of these folk band pieces, there is flexibility to vary the given line-up to better suit the available resources and abilities.