Theme from Gaelic Symphony (by Amy Beach)

This lovely, lyrical theme comes from the second movement of Amy Beach’s Symphony No. 3 in E minor, often referred to as the Gaelic Symphony. Amy Beach herself assigned this subtitle.

The oboe plays this tranquil melody at the start of the second movement, evoking a peaceful, pastoral mood. The melody is an adaptation of the Irish folk tune, The Little Field of Barley.

Level: Late Intermediate
Pages: Two pages of music