Billy Boy (SAB) | Timothy Michael Powell | MusicSpoke

For SAB Choir, Piano, and Fiddle (optional band)

Timothy Michael Powell pivey Music Press SAB/ PIANO /BAND performance copies.

POWELL This score is not licensed for SM0021SAB performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase

Who is "Dear Billy Boy"?

At the end of the 17th century, the area in Northern Ireland known as Ulster saw an influx of immigrants, mostly from Scotland. Many fought in the Williamite War on the side of King William III of Orange, affectionately nicknamed “King Billy.” Beginning in 1710, hundreds of thousands of these folk participated in a second migration to the American Colonies through Pennsylvania and into Appalachia, where they eventually became known as the Scotch- or Scots-Irish. Supporters of “King Billy” were often called “Billy Boys,” and “Billy Boys of the Hills,” which may even be one of the original derivations for the term “Hill Billy!"

My song Billy Boy tells the story of one of these early archetypical immigrants – a veteran of King William’s wars, weary of the world and looking for a new home. Perhaps Billy plans to bring his wife over from Lough Neagh, a beautiful lake in Ulster, after he has settled? Equally possible is that Billy has fled his life in Ulster for good, including his wife, and his nostalgia is as much regret for his actions as sadness for what he has lost.

The music features a poignant minor key mountain melody, set for piano and fiddle. Bluegrass music is the modern-day descendent of the folk songs that these Scots-Irish immigrants brought to Appalachia, so the inclusion of a “string band” of mandolin, banjo, guitar, bass, and perhaps dobro or even penny whistle can add a level of texture and complexity.

I hope you enjoy Billy Boy! -Timothy Michael Powell, composer Timothy Michael Powell is a composer, conductor, and music educator (not necessarily in that order!). Called "a skilled composer who understands the voice in all stages of development" by New York Concert reviews, Timothy's compositions eclectically span stylistic genres, and include majors works such as Wedding Mass, premiered at Carnegie Hall, Incarnatio Mysteria premiered at Lincoln Center in 2011, and St. George and the Dragon, a collaboration with renowned poet and lyricist Charles Anthony Silvestri, premiered in April 2014 at Lincoln Center to rave reviews. His bluegrass triptych Dear Appalachia: Songs For My Mountain Home received rotating world premiere performances in Ireland and throughout the U.S., culminating in a Carnegie Hall premiere in 2017.

Timothy was one of only 25 educators in the United States to be named a Semi-finalist for the 2016 Grammy Music Educator Award, and won the American Prize in Choral Performance in 2012. He was the 1999 National Choristers Guild Scholar, and a 2002 Fulbright Scholar to Bulgaria.

Timothy has successfully led choral programs in middle school, high school and universities, performing multiple times by peer-reviewed invitation at NAfME and ACDA conferences. He holds a DMA in Conducting from the University of South Carolina and his Bachelors and Masters degrees from Belmont University. He enjoys membership in ASCAP and Pi Kappa Lambda and serves in leadership roles in NAfME, and ACDA. He and his wife Jennifer have two musical children.

For more bluegrass, including Dear Appalachia: Songs for My Mountain Home and Melodious Sonnet: A Colonial American Mass check out

www.TimothyMichaelPowell.com This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.

Commissioned by The Riverside Middle School Chorus, Pendleton, SC Nikki Hudspeth Belch, Director

Billy Boy for SAB Choir, piano, and fiddle (optional band)

Words and Music by Timothy Michael Powell, ASCAP



   

Freely

Fiddle

Piano



S



A



6









A





e







e







  

 









 



  

Come a - way!"



  

 e



        

 

  



Come a - way!

  

Come a - way!





"Come a - way!



 

e

D

   

   



 

  

"Come a - way!

 



     

    

6



"Come a - way!



B

Pno.



D       

           e

6



  

Come a - way!"

Come a - way!"



 e/D

   

e 7/C

 e

                                         

This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies. © 2017 Spivey Music Press and Timothy Michael Powell; All Rights Reserved

 



11

S

A

B

 







A

 





15

Pno.









   

     



   

D



    



e

  

  

  



e

 



  

voice







a - cal - lin' 'cross the



  







  







a - cal - lin' 'cross the

voice

a - cal - lin' 'cross the

 



hills;

haunt - in'

 



hills;

haunt - in'



 

hills;

haunt - in'

 e

 

 



 

   

D



 

e



 

  

cresc.



mel

-





-



 

 

 

o - dy

so

o - dy

cresc.

mel

 

o - dy

cresc.

mel



-

so

so



D2

     



 



D sus







B VERSE ONE

   15

    









voice

B



I hear a

 





C





I hear a

  





      I hear a



11

S



 11

Pno.

Billy Boy

C

 

  

 

LH



cresc.



 

This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.

D

  

  

  

3

4

18

S

A





  sweet!

  

sweet!

B

   

  

  

G

18

Pno.



21

S

A

 

 

e



21

Pno.









 





Call - in'

"Come

 







 

 

back home

to the shores

of Lough Neagh!

 

 

back home

  

"Come

back home



 

    

G/B

C

 





to the

shores



back home



dear



  





  

way



back home

 

way

dear





back home



dear

to the shores







Come a -



 



   

a

e



 

 

 

  

 

Come a -



 

  

  









 

"Come a -

  



Bil - ly."

Bil - ly."

e





 



D







  

C





Bil - ly."







 

of Lough Neagh!

  



  

Come a -



D



  



of Lough Neagh!



 





 







D

   21



       

way

B

 "Come

Call - in'





Billy Boy

Call - in'

sweet!



18

 

C









    

   





 

C

 

  

  

This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.

 





D

  



24

S

A

B

 



24



A

B

 





  

"Come a - way!





26











 













  

  

Come a - way!

Come a - way!







e

e/D

     

 



  





 



"Come a - way!

 

5

Come a - way!"





Come a -



        



  

E



e 7/C

VERSE TWO



     



 

   

    



"Come a - way!"



  26

Pno.

way!

   

26

S







  24

Pno.



Billy Boy



  

Come a - way!"



way!"







  

I fought for faith

 e

    





  





    





 

 

    

Ul - ster.

 

Wore the

      

D

 

 

  

e

   

"Come a - way!"

and home land there in

 e



c







 

  This score is not licensed for performance.  Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.



   



6

  

30

S

A

B





cresc.





30





A

cresc.

  

death,



death,

B

 

death,

33



  

  

33

Pno.







when I crossed

the

cold

sea.

a





  

 

 







 







 





D

C



   

33

S





Orange







cresc.   

30

Pno.

Billy Boy

cresc.

G







 



Left for

peace

and life

far from

 





Left for

peace

  

 

 



   e

     







 

and life

far from

far from

  

Left for

peace

and life

 

 

   

G/B

C

 

  

  



 



 





slight accel.

far from strife.













 

  





  



far from strife.



But my wife

e

  

I



C



    



left,

   



 

 

be - reft by



D

e

 

  

 

   

slight accel.



 

Do you

Lough Neagh.







slight accel.



  



slight accel.

     







Do you

far from strife.



 

D





 



This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.

 

Do you

       

 

G/B



 

F

S

A

 

  

hear

 hear

B

 

hear

   

36

36

Pno.



A

C

 

  

38

S



 

 

     

that voice

  





  

sound

from be - yond



  

from be - yond

  

  

sound

from be - yond



   

38

         C

38

Pno.

  



Allegro 



 









 







 



the

 







  

3



  



  













Ul - ster?

 

 

sea?

 



3







 -



   

-





 



                          

D



G





C











   

  

3



  

 

in' for you

by

  

 

in' for you

by

the

wait - in' by

the



"Your love's

 

 

      

 





3

Lone - some





sea?

Lone - some

   

"Your love's wait



   3

   

G

"Your love's wait



  

Lone - some



Ul - ster?

yon - der from

 sea?







7

3

Ul - ster?



the

the



  

D

3







yon - der from

   a - call - in'



3

yon - der from

a - call - in'

  

 



  

that voice

 

   a - call - in'

that voice

sound

B

Billy Boy

CHORUS

Allegro 

  

  

This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.

the

     3



  



  



      





G

8

41

S

A

 

  

shores

 shores

B

  41







 





  

Come a - way

back home

dear

Bil - ly.





  

Come a - way

  



  



  

of Lough Neagh!





of Lough Neagh!

   

a





of Lough Neagh!

     

41

Pno.

shores

Billy Boy



  

  



Come a - way

  

 



     

 

back home

 

   

back home

  



dear

  Come a -

 

  

    

Come a -

Bil - ly.

dear



 

  



Bil - ly.

Come a -

         

                       

e



  

C

D





e















G 44

S

A

 

 



way



back home

  

  

way

44



44

Pno.



  

C



  





Bil - ly



Boy"



















Boy"

Bil - ly

Boy."







e 

D

 

 



Bil - ly

rit.

back home

 



  

rit.

back home

way

B

  

rit.



  

rit.





 





 

  

D

   

This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.



 

47

S

A

B

 



47

S

A











  e





H



love

 love

B

   51



51

Pno.











love



 D

  



 





  



   e



a - for - lorn

  



  



a - for - lorn

a - for - lorn



by



by





the



the





by

the

lake,

 









crossed the

 lake,





crossed the



crossed the

cresc.



sea

cresc.



sea



cresc.

sea

 

to

 

left my













Penn - syl - va -

to

Penn - syl - va -

to

Penn - syl - va -

 





I

 



lake,

left my



 



I



VERSE THREE

  

     





left my

    









   















      I

 47

Pno.

Billy Boy

     

This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.





 





9

10

  

54

S

nee!

A

  

nee!

B



nee!



  

  

 



54

Pno.

57

S

A

 

 



way

B

   57



57

Pno.









way

  

found

     



  

way



But I

But I







But I

   54

  

  

back home

   

home

like my

sweet



 

found

no



 



 



found

no



 

    

 

C

 





home

sweet





like my



D

a

 

 

hear that voice

 

slight accel.



 



     

 

  

Bil - ly."

   

slight accel.





"Come a -



  "Come a -

e



 

  

  



Allegro 

  

  

  

Do you hear that voice

  

Do you hear that voice

e



 

slight accel.



 

CHORUS

 







  

Do you

Bil - ly."





Bil - ly."

  





 

 



"Come a -

 

Ul - ster fair.

sweet





Ul - ster fair.

dear

  

like my





  



  

home



Ul - ster fair.

  

dear

D

 

no



slight accel.

 C



I

 

back home

 



dear







 

back home

 

 

 

Billy Boy

G/B

C

    

 

 

 





  

  

a - call - in'

yon - der from

  

  



3

a - call - in'

yon - der from

  

  

a - call - in'

yon - der from

Allegro 



   3

 D

 

This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.

3

  



  

   

  



60

S

A

 

 

Billy Boy

  

Ul - ster?

  

  

Pno.

63

S

A

 



  -

 

wait

B

63



63

Pno.

-



 







C

from be - yond

   

       



 

in' for you

by the

  

 

in' for you

by the

shores



    

wait - in' by the

shores



  

 

  

  



  



  

 a







the









 





   











  

Come a - way

 

back home

dear





  

Come a - way

  





  





home

dear



of Lough Neagh!

  

"Your love's



sea?





sea?

the

of Lough Neagh!

          

G



of Lough Neagh!



shores

 

"Your love's

G





sea?

D





the





11

                    

C

  







 



from be - yond

3

  

 

  



3



"Your love's

 

 

           3



wait



3

  

    

       



from be - yond

Lone - some sound

G

60



  

Lone - some sound

Ul - ster?



   3

    60



Lone - some sound

Ul - ster?

B

   3

 

  

     

e



back home

 

Come a - way

   





back



 

   

  

C







This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.



 

dear

 

     

D





12 66

S

A

 

 

Billy Boy

  

Bil - ly.

Bil - ly.

B





   e

66

Pno.



69

S

A

B

 









 

no rit.





    



 

           

C









  









back home

no rit.



 



 



Bil - ly

Bil - ly

 

 





Bil - ly

  

no rit.







back home

Come a - way











Boy."



Boy."

 Boy."



               

D

e

   













 





e

  



     

Come a -





"Come a - way!

                



Come a -

"Come a - way!

                  

69



back home



"Come a - way!

  69

Pno.





  

 

Bil - ly.





Come a - way

    66

 

Come a - way

  

J

no rit.



Come a -

               



D/e

                                

e



e











This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.





72

S

A



Billy Boy

 



way!

   



way!

B

  



way!

72



  

Pno.

                 

S

A

 

  

Bil

-







 



-

ly





Bil

-

ly

               

D

   

75

 

 



   









   

 







  





ly



  75

Pno.





Bil

B

  

e

        

75



Come

a



K



-

way!

 

Come



a



-

way!

Come

a

-

way!

 

 

 



 

 

C

D sus

 





 



 



 



               

INSTRUMENTAL SOLO



13



 

         

e

72



















 

    





Boy!"

 Boy!"

Boy!"



    3

                     C

D

  



    3

               3

G





This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.





14 78

S

A

B

 

Billy Boy

 













   

  

            

 



Ah!



Ah!

 





   















G

3       

 

3     

 

Ah!

 3   Ah!

Ah!











 





 

                                 

D

78

C

   

G



       3 

                    a

3

3

L

    







   









   









82

S



Ah!

C

Pno.







 78







 

   



A

B

82





           

82

Pno.

    e

   





   



   

        C





 

    D



 

    

 

  



                e



C







   no rit.

D

      

This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.

  e

                

87

S

A

B

 







A

B





















 









                                   

 

 

 

rit.

  

Come a - way





e

rit.

  

Come a - way

 

 



  

back home



  

  

back home

Come a - way

back home

rit.



rit.

rit.

  

 



     





 

92



15

"Come a - way!

   92

Pno.







"Come a - way!

  







e





"Come a - way!

  

92

S





87

Pno.

Billy Boy

 87

    



  

 

 

Bil - ly

 

Bil - ly

  

e

e

e

 

 

 

a tempo



a tempo









Boy." a tempo

Bil - ly

Boy."



a tempo

















Boy."



  













     

                                   e a tempo



This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.

 

D

 

 



e



 