“The Star of the County Down”, Irish Traditional for Euphonium Quartet, arranged by Sarah Houle, 2021.
Beginning as a typical broad march, this arrangement flows through a few different moods and styles, keeping the melody interesting. Winding down from the energy of the march, the piece transitions into a dolorous and flowing section, complete with emotional moments of tension as the parts sometimes get a little too close to each other for harmonic comfort. And then, a swinging and lilting waltz feel springs from the sadness, turning the melody beautifully from 4/4 to 3/4 time. All four parts carry the melody multiple times, making great use of the euphonium’s wide range.
Euphonious Music 