The Parting Glass - Bagpipes & Concert Band

"The Parting Glass" has been sung in Ireland and Scotland for hundreds of years; the first official dating back to 1770 although it is certainly much older than that. Sharing its melody with another old Irish song called "Sweet Cootehill Town", "The Parting Glass" shares dual Irish and Scottish heritages as there is a version of it in a collection of Scottish songs published in the Skene Manuscript in the mid-17th century "The Parting Glass" is a song of farewell, sung for and to good friends. It is a song that says all that matters is the here and now, the impending departure and the need to be at peace with friends.

In this new setting for Bagpipes and Concert Band Ian Macpherson uses two versions of this ancient melody bringing together contemporary and traditional sounds to great effect, creating a rich and varied soundscape. An inspirational score and certainly one that delivers that ‘wow' factor.

INSTRUMENTATION:

Conductors Full Score

Bagpipes

Piccolo

Flutes 1-2

Oboe

Bb Clarinets 1-2-3

Bb Bass Clarinet

Eb Alto Saxophones 1-2

Bb Tenor Saxophone

Eb Baritone Saxophone

Bassoon

Horns in F 1-2

3rd Horn in F

Bb Trumpets 1-2-3

Tenor Trombones 1-2

Bass Trombone

Euphonium

Basses

Timpani

Drum Set

Side Drum

Bass Drum

Suspended Cymbals

Triangle

Bodhran

Hand Cymbals

Glockenspiel

Bass Guitar