These “dances” or inventions, (commissioned for The Fires of London concert at the 1976 Edinburgh Festival) try different attempts at “Scottishness”. Each is prefaced by a prelude or transition, which changes the context. We start with a kind of shepherd’s call on the flute, leading to Beethoven’s E flat Écossais. Then we flit to a bagpipe “pibroch,” entitled McCrimmon will never return, largely carried by the bass clarinet.
Next, a Reel: De’il stick the minister, and then, a very wild description of the battle and sad aftermath of events at Culloden Field in 1746. No 5, Strathspey – Rothiemurchus Rant, is a veritable showpiece for the violin, while the Jig: I’ll mak ye fain tae follow me finale begins with a bluesy clarinet, then time travels to a more twentieth century recap of the opening call, ending with a vocal “yeeoch!” of truly Scottish exuberance.
