The Girl I Left Behind Me

This arrangement of a delightful Irish folk tune dating back to the 1700s is included as one of four tunes featured in Leroy Anderson’s  “An Irish Suite” created in 1947. However, this engaging tune has a rich history and was used by many country’s armies as a marching song, included in other classical works, adapted for big band, used in musical background in cartoons, and addition of many different lyrics created for 19th and 20th century folk songs as well as a variety of movies. Hart’s gift of arranging is on full display as it is solidly true to the original while adding motifs specific to handbells that make this literally dance off the page. Techniques include mallets, RT, TD and, of course, Ring. However, rests and accents are critical to clean ringing of this music as it moves along at march tempo: q = 120. Paying attention to counter-melodies and other embedded motifs will add to the interest. This is definitely a “must-have” for advanced groups!