The Stack of Barley
Misc tunes
2 min 8 sec · Score #52124
Open scoreThe Stack Of Barley sheet music
The Stack of Barley appears here in several traditional settings, all of which open in G major. They differ in notation rather than in stated composer: one score is written in 4/4 with an opening tempo of 60 BPM, while two are written in 2/2. A further title, The Little Stack of Barley, is listed separately, and the material available does not confirm whether it is a variant of the same tune or a different piece. Comparing the opening bars, time signature and range is the most practical way to choose a version to play.
Scores 1–20 of 30
Sheet music
The Little Stack of Barley
Misc tunes
2 min 8 sec
Open score
Traditional music - Stack of Barley
Traditional
1 min 4 sec
Open score
The Stack of Barley (A14)
Misc tunes
1 min 20 sec
Open score
The Stack Of Barley
Misc tunes
1 min 4 sec · Score #201723
Open score
Little Stack of Barley
Misc tunes
2 min 8 sec
Open score
The Stack Of Barley
Misc tunes
1 min 4 sec · Score #20424
Open score
The Stack of Barley
Misc tunes
2 min 8 sec · Score #120200
Open score
The Stack of Barley
Misc tunes
4 min 16 sec
Open score
Traditional music - The Stack Of Barley
Trad.
Little Stack Of Barley
1 min 4 sec
Open score
The Little Stack of Barley
Misc tunes
1 min 6 sec
Open score
The Little Stack of Barley
Misc tunes
Stáicín Eórna An
32 sec
Open score
"The Little Stack Of Barley" (hornpipe) 1627
after Chief O'Neill
2 min 10 sec
Open score
The Stack Of Barley
Misc tunes
1 min 4 sec · Score #42926
Open score
The Stack Of Barley
Misc tunes
1 min 4 sec · Score #47812
Open score
The Stack of Barley
Misc tunes
4 min 48 sec
Open score
The Stack Of Barley
Misc tunes
1 min 3 sec
Open score
Stack of Barley
Misc tunes
2 min 40 sec
Open score
The Stack Of Barley
Misc tunes
1 min 4 sec · Score #123392
Open score
the Little Stack of Barley
anon.
2 min 8 sec
Open scorePage 1 of 2
Comparing the available settings
Every score listed for The Stack of Barley begins with one sharp, given as G major. One setting is notated in 4/4 with an opening tempo of 60 BPM; the other two use 2/2. These details describe how these particular scores are written, not a definitive performing edition. Read the first phrase and check the range and any part indications before deciding which setting suits your instrument.
4/4 and 2/2 in practice
A 4/4 setting counts four quarter-note beats to the bar; a 2/2 setting counts two half-note beats to the bar. The two can describe the same music with a different sense of pulse, so the time signature affects how the beat is felt and counted as much as how the notes look on the page. The supplied information does not say whether the 4/4 and 2/2 scores are separate arrangements or differing notations of one setting.
The Stack of Barley and The Little Stack of Barley
The Little Stack of Barley is listed as its own title. Nothing in the available information establishes whether it is a variant of The Stack of Barley, a related tune or an independent piece with a similar name. Comparing the opening melodic phrase and the cadence at the end of each part is more reliable than assuming the titles are interchangeable.
Choosing a version to play
No difficulty grade or instrumentation is stated for any of these scores, so the score itself is the best guide. Look at the range, repeated notes, ornamentation and phrase lengths. A slower opening tempo marking does not by itself make a setting easier or harder; the figuration and the demands of the instrument matter more.
Scores to open first
- The Stack of Barley
Catalogue duration 2 min 8 sec. Opening key signature: 1 sharp (G major). Opening time signature: 2/2.
- The Little Stack of Barley
Catalogue duration 2 min 8 sec. Opening key signature: 1 sharp (G major). Opening time signature: 2/2.
- Traditional music - Stack of Barley
Catalogue duration 1 min 4 sec. Opening key signature: 1 sharp (G major). Opening time signature: 4/4. Opening tempo: 60 BPM.
Related collections
Common questions
Who composed The Stack of Barley?
The scores available for The Stack of Barley credit the music as traditional or leave the composer field blank. No supplied source names a composer, so the authorship of the tune is unconfirmed here.
What key is The Stack of Barley in?
The scores listed for The Stack of Barley all open with one sharp, identified as G major. That describes these notations only and does not establish that every version of the tune is in G major.
Is The Little Stack of Barley the same tune as The Stack of Barley?
The Little Stack of Barley is listed as a separate title, and the available information does not confirm whether it is a variant of The Stack of Barley or a different tune. Playing or reading the opening phrase of each and comparing the cadences at the end of the parts is the practical way to judge the relationship.
Why is one score in 4/4 and the others in 2/2?
Among the scores listed for The Stack of Barley, one is notated in 4/4 with an opening tempo of 60 BPM, and two are notated in 2/2. The choice changes how the beat is written and counted, with 4/4 counting four quarter-note beats to the bar and 2/2 counting two half-note beats. The supplied details do not say whether these are separate arrangements or different notations of the same setting.
What instrument is The Stack of Barley written for?
The listings for The Stack of Barley do not state an intended instrument. Check the clef, the range and any part indications in the score itself before choosing a version for a particular instrument.
Which version of The Stack of Barley is easiest to play?
No difficulty grade is given for any of the available scores. The 4/4 setting carries an opening tempo marking of 60 BPM, but tempo alone does not determine difficulty; compare the range, ornamentation, repeated notes and phrase lengths across the settings instead.
What tempo is The Stack of Barley played at?
Only one of the available scores carries an opening tempo marking, 60 BPM in the 4/4 setting. The two 2/2 scores state no tempo, so a performer has to choose one from the notation and the playing context.