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Last Rose of Summer, The

(Thomas Moore/Sir John Stevenson)

This was originally a poem written by the Irish poet Thomas Moore at Jenkinstown Park, County Kilkenny, Ireland, in 1805.  The poem was set to music by Sir John Stevenson and eventually published in the Thomas Moore collection Irish Melodies (1807-1834).  The first time it really came to public attention was in the 1847 opera Martha written by Friedrich von Flotow, and since then it has been used by Leroy Anderson in his Irish Suite and recorded by artists such as Charlotte Church, the Irish Tenors and Celtic Woman.

Boston Pops Orchestra recordings
RCA 60746-2-RG (CD: Irish Night at the Pops)
Conductor – Arthur Fiedler

Cincinnati Pops Orchestra recordings
Telarc CD-80571 (CD: A Celtic Spectacular)
Conductor – Erich Kunzel
Arranger – Leroy Anderson
Tenor – John McDermott
Fiddle – Liz Knowles
Silver Arm Celtic Band
Pipes – Kieran O’Hare

Eastman-Rochester Pops Orchestra recordings
Mercury 434 376-2 (CD: Fennell Conducts the Music Of Leroy Anderson and Eric Coates)
Conductor  – Frederick Fennell

Richard Hayman and His Orchestra recordings
Naxos 8.555016 (CD: Irish Rhapsody)

Naxos 8.990018 (CD: Irish Rhapsody)

Sources:

  1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Rose_of_Summer
  2. http://www.leroy-anderson.com/html/hearthemusic.htm
  3. http://www.pbs.org/sleighride/Video&Music/Compositions_ISuite.htm