SLANE is the hymn tune form of an Irish folk song. It is associated with several texts, most notably Be Thou My Vision. This arrangement for cello quartet celebrates the expansive melody through six verses across the cello’s range. It works best with a quartet of one cellist per part.

The opening verse features harmonic bell tones in three parts over a low-octave G Major melody. Second, the harmonics continue in two parts as the melody jumps an octave alongside a lower countermelody. Next, broken arpeggios break out as the harmonics reduce to a single part. The fourth verse transitions to C Major with the melody in parallel fourths as the arpeggiated parts develop into a contrapuntal texture. Soft descending scales overlay the melody in the penultimate verse. Finally, the four parts integrate to present an original four-part harmonization.