Irish Tune From County Derry
 Percy Aldridge GRAINGER (1882-1961)

Irish Tune From County Derry has become one of the standard pieces of wind orchestra. The theme was noted by Miss J Ross from New Town, Limavady County, Ireland, and was published in the Petrie Collection of Ancient Irish Music of Ireland, Dublin (1855).

Graingerfs setting for wind band was written in 1918, when he already had made versions for mixed choir, piano and chamber orchestra. Except for the final 16 bars, the tune is written with the accompaniment of no more than six voices at a time, yet creating a rich and full sound by keen instrumentation. In 1920 Grainger produces another setting of the Irish Tune, which is quite different from the first setting, especially harmonically. Of this setting a version for wind orchestra and choir was made.

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