Traditional Irish, Arranged by Ronald C. Knoener (Grade 3, 4:00)

“The Maids of the Mourne Shore” is an old Irish tune which serves as the basis and inspiration of this arrangement. This melody became better known when the words of William Butler Yeats’ poem, Down By the Sally Gardens, were set to its melody. The current title of this arrangement, Pure Flows the Crystal Stream, is taken from the original folk lyrics of the song. Here is fourth stanza of the original lyric, which contains the title of this band setting, in context:
 
Farewell now to Lord Edmund’s groves, likewise the Bleaching Green,
Where the linen webs lie clean and white, pure flows the crystal stream
Where many’s the happy day I spent; but, now, alas! they’re o’er,
Since the lass I loved has banished me, far, far from Mourne Shore.