The Star of the County Down

Traditionnel (Irlande) · Level 2 (Beginner) · traditional · Piano

An Irish ballad on an old tune (“My Love Nell”), with words by Cathal MacGarvey (1866–1927): a young man meets a lovely girl near Banbridge. E Aeolian mode. An easy arrangement in E minor: the right hand plays the tune, the left hand alternates a bass note and a two-note chord (“oom-pah”).

▶ Play this piece with the interactive score

How to practise it

• Listen first: the site plays it while the score scrolls.
• Wait mode: the score waits for you at every note, at your own pace.
• Tempo challenge: play in time, with a score and a map of the bars you got right.
• Learn the tune alone by singing it, then the left hand alone: spot the chord changes before putting hands together in Wait mode, then at a reduced tempo.

More pieces by Traditionnel (Irlande)

• Londonderry Air (Danny Boy)
• The Irish Washerwoman
• The Minstrel Boy
• The Wexford Carol
• The Rakes of Mallow
• The Kesh (jig)
• Drowsy Maggie (reel)
• Out on the Ocean (jig)

Source : Arrangement Note after Note d’après l’air traditionnel irlandais · Public Domain