Star of the County down and after the Battle of Aughrim: Traditional Celtic Tunes for String Quartet

(String Letter Publishing). "Star of the County Down" is a sentimental Irish ballad. This popular folk tune was the basis for Ralph Vaughan Williams' Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus . The tune is a pentatonic melody with a romantic feel. "After the Battle of Aughrim" is a beautiful account of the last great defeat of the native Gaelic army in Ireland. It offers a real tug on the heart. Easy for students to play, this tune's yearning tonality reflects the sobriety of the war and subsequent loss that inspired this piece.