The Londonderry Air

Each year for St. Patrick's Day, I try to upload a "traditional" Irish melody or piece. I've already uploaded several "Londonderry Airs," but I think this one is one of the nicest arrangements.

The Londonderry Air is an air that originated in County Londonderry, Ireland. It is popular among the Irish diaspora and is well known throughout the world. The song "Danny Boy" uses the tune, with a set of lyrics written in the early 20th century.

Herbert Sanders (20 September 1878 – 18 May 1938) was a Canadian organist, pianist, conductor, composer, writer on music, and music educator of English birth. His compositional output includes numerous sacred songs, anthems, and works for organ. He won the American Guild of Organists's Clemson Gold Medal for composition twice. The Canadian Musical Heritage Society has recently reprinted seven of his hymns and the anthem Light's Glittering Morn. Several of his compositions are included in the Catalogue of Printed Music at the British Library in London and many of his original manuscripts are part of the collection at the Library and Archives Canada.

Born in Wolverhampton, England Sanders studied at the Royal College of Music. In 1907 Sanders emigrated to Canada While there he toured extensively throughout Canada as an organ recitalist and accompanist and served as the director of the Ottawa Oratorio Society.

Sanders relocated to Montreal in 1929 to become the music director of the newly built Tudor Hall in the J.A. Ogilvy Department Store, a position he held up until his death nine years later. At the hall he performed several noon-time organ recitals every week.
In 1932-1933 he was president of the Royal Canadian College of Organists (RCCO). During the 1930s he also served as the organist of Westmount Park Melville United Church. He died in Montreal in 1938 at the age of 59.

Whatever your nationality, I wish you all a HAPPY St. Patrick's Day!

The score is attached below. :-)