scored for 3 Bb trumpets, 4 F horns, 3 trombones, tuba

Folk melodies and their accompanying lyrics have been passed down through countless generations by aural tradition. Composers of all nationalities have mined this rich melodic seam, whether for patriotic reasons or on account of a melody's inherent beauty or for the possibilities it offers in terms of harmony and thematic development.

The ancient folk music tradition faltered somewhat, certainly in the British Isles, with the advent of...