Score
"Celtic" is a widely used term. Its history and culture expands to modern day Spain, Portugal, and North America.
However, in this piece, I have based my music on the typical "Celtic" areas of Ireland and Scotland.
The Bagpipe drone at the beginning reappears several times.
After the introduction, the music transitions to an Irish Reel, The Wind That Shakes The Barley. Reel is a fast tempo dance, often in 4/4 or 2/2 time.
Next is the Scottish folksong Auld Lang Syne, known as "Hotaru no Hikari" in Japan.
The third movement is called Scotland the Brave. It is often performed by military bagpipe ensembles. Once air is blown into the bag, there is a constant reservoir of sound for Great Highland Bagpipes.
A Part (advanced) is a grade 2.5-3 in American grading system. B Part (beginner) is 1-1.5.
B Part is accessible for elementary school and junior high school beginning band students in Japan. However, the drone-sounding sections require a certain technique to hold the sound steady.
It is my sincere desire that beginning musicians understand the importance of fundamentals through performing good music.
Keiichi Kurokawa
