Star of the County Down is a sentimental Irish ballad. This popular folktune was the basis for Ralph Vaughan Williams' Five Variants of Dives a nd Lazarus. The tune is a pentatonic melody with a romantic feel. After the Battle of Aughrim is a beautiful account of the last great defeat ofthe native Gaelic army in Ireland. It offers a real tug on the heart. E asy for students to play, this tune's yearning tonality reflects the sobriety of the war and subsequent loss that inspired this piece.
