Malcolm Arnold: Four Scottish Dances
The dances were composed in 1957 by Malcolm Arnold and are dedicated to the 成人快手 Light Music Festival. As a collective, they are intended to portray Scotland and use timbreThe tonal quality or sound of an instrument that distinguishes it from others. intended to imitate the bagpipesA woodwind instrument that uses enclosed reeds fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag. Associated with Scotland. , as well as dances associated with the country.
Structure
The suite is in four movements:
- pesante
- vivace
- allegretto
- con brio
Instrumentation and timbrey
The dances were composed for an orchestra which consisted of piccolo, flute, two clarinets in B鈾, two bassoons, four horns in F, two trumpets in B鈾, three trombones, timpani, percussion - cymbals, side drum, bass drum, wood block, tam-tam - strings and harp.
Musical description
Each dance is separated by a different tempoThe speed that the music is played at. and style marking.
Dance 1 is a bpmBeats per minute. of 104, with the instruction to be played pesante A musical term meaning to play in a forceful manner. . It is in the style of a slow strathspeyA reel played at a slightly slower tempo in 4/4., which is a reel played at a slightly slower tempo in 4/4. Typical of the style, the movement features a Scotch snapAlso known as a lombardic rhythm, this is a semi-quaver followed by a dotted quaver. rhythm - a very short accented note followed by a longer note.
Dance 1
Dance 2 is a lively reel. The tempo is 160 bpm with the instruction to be played vivace, which means lively. The movement is in 4/4.
Dance 2 begins in the key signatureA pattern of sharps or flats at the beginning of a piece of music indicating which are to be played. of E鈾. The music rises a semitone each until the bassoon plays the melody at a much slower tempo in the key of G. The final statement of the dance returns to the original tempo and the home key of E鈾.
Dance 2
Dance 3 is in the style of a Hebridean song in 3/4 time. The tempo is marked crotchet = 96 and to be played allegroLively and fast.. The movement conveys the impression of the sea and mountain scenery on a calm summer鈥檚 day in the Hebrides.
Dance 3
Dance No. 4 is a lively Highland flingA solo Highland dance that gained popularity in the early 19th century. in 2/4 time. The tempo is a bpm of 144 with the instruction allegro di molto e con brioFast with much energy.. The movement feature a tripletA group of three equal length notes played in the space of two, eg three quavers played in the space of two quavers. figure throughout.
Dance 4