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 its style 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 8 June 1957 with the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by the composer.
Read more about Four Scottish Dances: Arrangements, Selected Commercial Recordings
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