Auld Lang Syne - Wind Quintet

Auld Lang Syne by Robert Burns
Arranged for Wind Quintet by Hugh Levey

Since Robert Burns wrote the words of Auld Lang Syne in 1788, it has become a standard feature of New Year celebrations, Burns nights, and the closing stages of almost every ceilidh dance and wedding in Burns’ native Scotland. 

Duration - 1’ 48” for 2 verses. Approximately 5’ for all five verses

This wind quintet arrangement by Scottish clarinetist and arranger, Hugh Levey. It is in a suitable key for playing as a short recital piece or to accompany community or solo singing. For most occasions the arranger suggests playing it without any repeats, so that 2 differently arranged verses are performed. This works for a recital piece or as accompaniment to how it is typically sung. In Scotland it would be verses 1 and 5, in other parts of the world verse 1 is often sung twice. 

The work opens with a short bassoon solo, accompanied by ‘bagpipe’ drones on the clarinet and French horn. Verse 1 follows, played by various duet combinations but still accompanied by the bagpipe drones. The final verse and chorus are written in four part harmony, to give a majestic ending to the piece. The drones move between clarinet, horn and bassoon throughout the introduction and verse 1, but each instrument also gets to play melodic material too.

Duration: 1'48" without repeats for additional verses
Programme notes, performance notes and lyrics: 2 pages
Score: 5 pages
Parts: 5 pages