Carolan's Draught Acoustic Guitar - Digital Sheet Music

SKU: A0.1017671

Carolan’s Draught

Turlough Ó Carolan (1670-1738) was an Irish harper and composer. Carolan’s music does not sit comfortably in any one particular musical tradition. He was the product of a long line of Irish harpers dating from medieval times or before. He was also aware of Irish folk music, with many of his tunes having a ‘trad’ quality, particularly in his jig-like compositions. Finally, Carolan was influenced by the music of Italian Baroque composers, whose music he would have heard played at the great houses he visited. Carolan’s Draught is an example of the latter.

Carolan’s Draught is a lively tune equally at home in folk concerts and sessions, early music performances, schools, weddings and I have also used it as a learning piece with my mandolin and mandola students.

I have composed a counterpoint and a bass part. My arrangement has the tune played three times through: first, the basic melody is played on its own; second, with the counterpoint; third, with the bass part added. This arrangement is completely flexible. The parts can be played on almost any instrument and in different octaves. Have fun with it!