ye banks and braes
o' Bonnie Doon
Arr. michael sweeney - Grade 1
About the music
This Scottish folk song, with lyrics by Robert Burns and melody attributed to Charles Miller, provides wonderful melodic and phrasing opportunities for young players. Whenever the melody appears, if should be played in a fluid and smooth manner, taking care not to break the phrase. Ample air support will need to be encouraged and developed.
Tempo & style
Flowing (QN=104)
Slightly Faster (QN=110)
Deliberately (QN=92)
Slightly Faster (QN=110)
Deliberately (QN=92)
Ranges
Flute
|
Clarinet 1
|
Clarinet 2
|
Trumpet
|
Trombone
|
instrumentation
WOODWIND
Flute Oboe Clarinet 1-2 Bass Clarinet Bassoon Alto Sax Tenor Sax Baritone Sax |
BRASS
Trumpet 1-2 French Horn Trombone Euphonium Tuba |
PERCUSSION
Bells Suspended Cymbal |
teaching concept categories
teaching considerations
The opening Scottish drone of this piece provides a great opportunity to expand the use of droning into warm-ups to improve interval intonation. Use open fifths as well as unison and octaves. Consider having each section play the melody over the drone of the rest of the band. The "Scottish snap" figure, present in the sixth measure of the phrase by two eighth notes on the downbeat, should have a tenuto (weight) to the first eighth note. It is important for students to understand the difference between an emphasized (weight, tenuto) note and an accented note. A tenuto is written on the pick-up to the final note of the phrase accompanied by either a ritardando or rallentando marking. Work as an ensemble on arriving together at the end of the phrase. Establishing the a tempo that follows will also require the ensemble to listen to each other and watch the conductor.