Tag: Folk Songs

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My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose – Free Sheet Music for Robert Burns Day!

Today is the birthday of Scotland’s beloved national poet, Robert Burns. In the UK they celebrate with Burns Suppers in which people read his gorgeous poetry, sing his songs, wear 18th Century costumes, hold parades and dances, and eat haggis 😆. His most famous song lyrics are Auld Lang Syne which we sing on New Year’s Eve, and My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose. I have posted free sheet music for My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose for February, the month of 💘 love💘. But since it in Robert Burns Day I wanted to offer it to you today! I arranged this beautiful folk song for intermediate piano, but if you are a beginner you can play just the top note of the melody (right hand) lines, and the bottom note of the accompaniment (left hand) lines. Click below to print your sheet music from my website. When you click you will find the sheet music at the bottom, right on my free sheet music page. (Available until the end of January 2023, so print now!)

Print: MY LOVE IS LIKE A RED, RED ROSE

Notice that the introduction starts with both hands playing in the treble staff, then the left hand moves to the bass staff in the last measure of the first line. In the last line of the piece, the left hand once again moves to treble, then back to bass in the last measure of the piece.

I am playing at a slow tempo for demonstration purposes but you can play it at an Andante (moderate walking) tempo once you are comfortable with the notes. Notice that I also played it a bit Rubato – slowing down for expressiveness in various measures, and I used my damper pedal to smooth out the phrases.

I hope you enjoy playing My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose throughout 💌 February 💌 , and especially today, Robert Burns Day! We celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in a big way here in the USA, but because fewer Scots immigrated here, they don’t get their cultural due! You might have guessed that I am a great lover of Scotland- the music, the food (ok Haggis not so much), the dance, the people, the accent, the humor and the stunning countryside. I hope someday to explore more of the highlands and islands of Scotland, but for now I can take my journey vicariously through song.

With love and music, Gaili

P.S. If you are new to this blog, welcome! I post free sheet music every month, arranged for beginning to intermediate piano students, plus practice tips and worksheets (see the sidebar for previous posts ➡️ ; most music is posted for just 1 year). I have written piano instruction books for adults over 50 (UpperHandsPiano.com), younger adults and teens (PianoPowered.com), Songs of the Seasons piano sheet music books for seasonal classical and popular favorites, and my latest piano/guitar/vocals books called The Music Remedy – sheet music collections to restore and revitalize the spirit. Check out my books on the websites above, or click below to view them on Amazon.com.

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April Free Sheet Music: Wayfaring Stranger

In light of the fact that we’re having some pretty strange spring weather on both the east and west coasts, and because I have been hearing that you’re enjoying the old folk songs, I decided to arrange another beautiful oldie, called Wayfaring Stranger. This dark tune  which probably originated in the southern Appalachians, has been recorded by many fine artists, many of whom you can watch here. I think my favorite version is Jack White’s:

You can watch a bit of the song as White sung it in the 2003 film, Cold Mountain (starring Renée Zellweger, Nicole Kidman and Jude Law): 

I offered an easy arrangement of Wayfaring Stranger in Upper Hands Piano BOOK 1, and have also re-arranged it for intermediate piano. You can download both, below:

Print Wayfaring Stranger INTERMEDIATE HERE                    (only available through March 2019)

UPDATE- I COULD NOT INCLUDE THE EASY ARRANGEMENT OF WAYFARING STRANGER ON MY NEW WEBSITE. PLEASE EMAIL ME AT upperhandspiano@gmail.com AND I WILL HAPPILY EMAIL IT TO YOU. SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE!

In the intermediate arrangement I tried to simulate some of that mountain guitar sound that Jack White creates, but I have kept the melody to the traditional notes. Here is a video to help you play Wayfaring Stranger, intermediate:

Here are the lyrics to the third verse, which I didn’t include in the sheet music:

I know dark clouds will hover o’er me
I know my pathway is rough and steep
But golden fields lie out before me
Where weary eyes no more will weep
I’m going there to see my Mother
She said she’d meet me when I come
So, I’m just going over Jordan
I am just going over home

You might also want to scroll down on the FREE Sheet Music Page and print a few more songs before they disappear! (They are available for only one year.) If you haven’t already, print The Water Is Wide. It’s such a beautiful song; I want everyone to know it!

I hope Wayfaring Stranger helps you enjoy the final vestiges of cloudy/rainy/snowy moody/gloominess before the dawning of a sunshiny spring!

With love and music, Gaili

Gaili Schoen, Author, Upper Hands Piano: A Method for Adults 50+ to Spark the Mind, Heart and Soul (BOOKs 1-4, available on Amazon.com)

UpperHandsPiano.com