Scottish Dances
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Four Scottish Dances (Op.59) is a set of light music pieces composed by Malcolm Arnold in 1957 for the BBC Light Music Festival. The set consists of four dances inspired by, although not based on, Scottish country folk tunes and dances. Each movement is denoted by the tempo marking, as the individual movements are untitled.
The pieces are intended to evoke the music of Scotland, and utilize sounds intended to imitate bagpipes, and the Reel and Scotch snap rhythm, as well as comic elements, such as a "tipsy" middle section in movement II.
The first performance was given at the Royal Festival Hall on 8th June 1957 with the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by the composer.
Contents |
[edit] Movements
I.Pesante
II.Vivace
III.Allegretto
IV.Con brio
[edit] Arrangements
- for Wind band by John Paynter
- for Brass band by Ray Farr, 1984
- for piano by John York
- for piano & violin by David Gedge
[edit] Selected commercial recordings
- 1959 Malcolm Arnold and the London Philharmonic Orchestra on Everest Records SDBR 3021 (re-released on Everest 9006)
- 1979 Malcolm Arnold and the London Philharmonic Orchestra on Lyrita LP and CD: SRCD.201 ([1]))
- 1990 Bryden Thomson and the Philharmonia on Chandos CHAN 8867 ([2])
- 1996 Andrew Penny and the Queensland Symphony Orchestra on Naxos Records 8.553526 ([3])
- 1998 Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops on RCA Victor 09026-68901-2
