Celtic Offering, A

An Ceilteach Saothar (A Celtic Offering)
Composed by Catherine McMichael
for Flute Choir
Published by Alry Publications
Includes score and parts

Instrumentation:
Piccolo
3 Flutes
Alto Flute
Bass Flute
Contrabass Flute (or Contralto Flute) (Optional)

Contents:
I. Skylarks (Fuiseog)
II. Rain (Fearthainn)
III. Festive Dance (Ceílí)

“A Celtic Offering” was commissioned in honor of Nashville Flute Choir founder and director, Karen R. Mitchell, and is a three movement snapshot of the Irish landscape and her people. Similar to her cousin, “A Gaelic Offering,” the music is meant to sound indigenous but in fact consists of entirely original themes. Sky Larks and Rain are landscape portraits, in the classic compound meter of much Celtic folk music. Festive Dance goes to cut time, a fast movement meant to evoke the clogging style of Irish dance.

Program Notes:
“A Celtic Offering” is a three movement snapshot of the Irish landscape and her people. Similar to her cousin, “A Gaelic Offering,” the music is meant to sound indigenous but in fact consists of entirely original themes. Sky Larks and Rain are landscape portraits, in the classic compound meter of much Celtic folk music. Festive Dance goes to cut time, a fast movement meant to evoke the clogging style of Irish dance.
The Nashville Flute Choir (NFC) was founded in 2001 by director Karen Mitchell, whose heritage is Irish, hence the thematic basis of this piece. The NFC is an organization of performers and enthusiasts meeting to rehearse and perform music written for this unique instrumentation.
“A Celtic Offering” is written for the conventional flute choir instrumentation: Piccolo, 3 C Flutes, Alto Flute and Bass Flute. The Contrabass and Contralto Flute parts included in the set can be considered optional.