Malcolm Arnold: Four Scottish Dances

[@daphneanson9587]

The Allegretto (the third part) must be one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written.

[@geevanh4200]

♥♥♫♥♥

[@alexkije]

Richard Rodgers thought so, too. It became A FELLA NEEDS A A GIRL song from the musical ALLEGRO.

[@knoahbody69]

Not if you have an oboist that plays out of tune.

[@dancerswithtalent5901]

First chair bassoonist has left the chat

[@joshkahl3576]

My band director made me pound a bottle of vodka before UIL for this song. Hundo percent kidding, but fuck yeh that Bassoon solo

[@alexkije]

This movement was playing when my grade school son had to catch the school bus. He insisted he do it himself without my aid on a snowy day. Before he left, he did a little tip toe dance following the music in the house.

[@paullewis2413]

Just recently discovered Arnold’s 5th symphony. What a great work, has to rank among the best from the 20th century. Composed in 1961, it’s a mix of dissonance and pure melody, thoroughly professional and enjoyable, love it 😊

[@iansutton9746]

Malcolm Arnold was a marvelous composer, whose English, Scottish and Irish Dances I had a recording of in my teens (in the 1950s). Immediately become a huge admirer. Not as well known as Vaughan-Williams or others of the era, but absolutely brilliant and imaginative and often witty. His symphonies are extremely interesting. I also had the recording of his superb guitar concerto played by Dennis Bream. His soundtracks for Bridge on the River Kwai and Tunes of Glory are exceptional. Originally a trumpet player (which one can tell), Arnold was much sought after for his excellent pieces of numerous genres.

[@IMP1963]

I chatted with Arnold once in 1990's and became friendly with his career Anthony 😊

[@yifanxu7316]

Like in a fairy tale! I feel like I am playing, flying and smiling!

[@jerryhagen5926]

good for you!

[@johnlorenzen4633]

These dances move me. The little quarter 4th flip is so characteristically Scottish. Stern and playful at same time. The expansive moving memorable melody of the slow movement perfectly captures the personality of a people. Warm yet melancholy like the moors....

[@MarcAllenCramnella]

This was my first Malcolm Arnold piece. 15 years ago. One of my top 5 favorite composers.

[@JasonMcChristian]

I’ve never heard such a slow tempo for the first movement. Fascinating interpretation.

[@alexkije]

It's All the Pretty Little Horses tune.

[@dlnnyc64]

Tempo marking is Pesante… heavy and ponderous. So not that slow.

[@donbusu]

Playing this when my high school goes to Scotland to compete.

[@alexkije]

groovy!

[@MrPoupard]

4.03 …. can anyone else hear music's one and only depiction of a hangover?!

[@lindsanto]

Great Malcom Arnold, fantastic music.

[@fredbalmages6029]

We played this at a Peabody Conservatory reunion. Chops and reading skill 40 years older than we all were but it still sounded great. Challenging but great.

[@AndrewHelgeCox]

Exciting and challenging music.

[@classy_dweller]

Great Malcolm Arnold!

[@alexkije]

You betcha!

[@Treble_V2]

I played this my freshmen year in region 14 honors band. I played third clarinet, and it was amazing as it was my first time with a really good band.

[@maddiep6336]

i’m playing 3rd clarinet part too! i completely agree. i’m a freshman in top band which is really rare. so it’s nice to be 3rd part and feel challenged while getting a feel for the band

[@geevanh4200]

@@maddiep6336 ♥♥♥♥♥

[@ian9838]

Charlotte Read, that happens MANY times when transcribing orchestral literature to band. Here, the flute compliments the underlying strings; those strings are replaced w/ flutes in band, so the oboe fills in nicely. :)

[@jimstokes6742]

Great orchestration.

[@andymilsten9096]

Ian 98 The band arrangement is very well orchestrated. Not hearing the original orchestra version in advanced makes the band one sound so original! I love when pieces originally for orchestra get transcribed for band because most of the time I hear the orchestra version which sounds great but then hearing the band version just sounds empty (not in a bad way though)! This is different though!

[@helios3217]

Had to sightread this. It was… interesting

[@ianfraser4243]

More than a touch of uisque beagh in the outer movements but the slow movement, well it will be played for ever....

[@ntnstern]

Excellent-Sir Malcolm Arnold is not only an underestimated composer he is an underrated conductor too!!! A great rendition!!

[@alexkije]

He was VERY WELL KNOWN! Ya gotta read up. Be aware.

[@chelseanoelle3247]

One of my fave pieces to play...except that 4th wiped my fingers off

[@geevanh4200]

♥♥♥♥♥

[@jimstokes6742]

"All the pretty little horses" folk song opens it.

[@windstorm1000]

the lovely mealody at 5:20 has such a Scottish lilt--must make anybody who is Scottish living in another country get a tear in their eye...very poignant melody.

[@jerryhagen5926]

Indeed! I have a true story about that. Twas a snowy day when I had this playing in the house on a very cold, snowy day. And my very small son tip toed to the very end of this song. Broke me up. I have that memory still . :(

[@allillanchu]

I live on the west coast of Scotland and the third movement just reminds me of the sun slowly setting on a perfect summers night on one of our Atlantic beaches.

[@toffeesxphee6142]

Playing the piccolo part for this pray for me

[@liamthemarchingbandguy4063]

My favorite movements are the second and third

[@Queenmarie88]

Wow. Really enjoyed!!!!

[@geevanh4200]

♥♥♥♥♥

[@vladislovkyzinski3430]

The melody at around 5:20 sounds like it was later used as a pop tune, "A fellow needs a girl."

[@Glinkaism1]

+Vladislov Kyzinski Indeed! I recall is as sung by Julie Andrews.

[@PentameronSV]

Wait why is the beginning cut off slightly?

[@alexkije]

The first one sounds like ALL THE PRETTY LITTLE HORSES.

[@jamiegriffith7403]

It does, the percussion is amazing it makes you feel so good

[@geevanh4200]

♥♥♥♥♥

[@Fhorn5114]

Played this in the Portland Youth Philharmonic and for my community college band and Warner Pacific college. It sounds so much cooler if you play it in a real orchestra.

[@Queenmarie88]

Just don't care for the last movement. LOVE the first 3.

[@Ricktpt1]

Everybody gets an opinion, even if it's wrong, lol...there is no BAD Malcolm Arnold.... ; - )

[@smudger671]

Queenmarie88: You have peculiar taste.

[@Queenmarie88]

@@Ricktpt1 I’m not saying it’s bad -it’s not. I just don’t like it like I do the first 3. We played it at All State Red Band my senior year. It was a fun piece though 😎😎♥️♥️

[@geevanh4200]

♥♥♥♥

[@Glinkaism1]

Starts out the "Comin' Through the Rye."

[@Glinkaism1]

I have this on vinyl by same ork and conductor. But record player is a basket case. So I'm sure glad KZbin has this! That's a gorgeous photo!

[@Glinkaism1]

Roger Wilco 5:04 song has special meaning. It was a horrible blizzard of a morning when my six year old son had to catch the school bus a block away. My car wouldn't start. Just before I accompanied him to the bus stop, he stepped softly to the last few bars of this piece asa we went out the door as it was playing on the radio, starting about 7:54. Now he is grown up and suffers from mental illness.

[@sharonmathews7203]

+Roger Wilco What a beautiful story. How is your son now?

[@geevanh4200]

@@sharonmathews7203 ♥♥♥♥

[@RenCollieflower]

French horns FTW!

[@geevanh4200]

♥♥♥♥

[@loves5leon]

Magnificent!

[@geevanh4200]

♥♥♥♥

[@urlessies]

the second movement is part of my school's marching show this year!!

[@-liomus-8197]

ME TOO

[@geevanh4200]

@@-liomus-8197 ♥♥♥

[@geevanh4200]

♥♥♥♥♥

[@fiercefloof]

Very good piece! Except for the last movement, that one feels like it'll fall apart any second while playing lol

[@charlotteread4874]

why is the opening solo in the third movement done on flute? I thought it was supposed to be oboe?

[@SBinKMedia]

+Charlotte Read interpretation?

[@brianbarry5039]

Charlotte Read If you're talking about the concert band arrangement by John Painter then you would be correct. The original score has the solo given to flute.

[@excalibur1812]

It's actually scored for flute in both the band and orchestra arrangements. The oboe has the solo later in a different key.

[@RedRooster0912]

In Paynter’s band transcription, it’s an oboe solo, but in Arnold’s original orchestra piece, it’s a flute solo

[@PhilippeRR1]

One would assume that if the composer himself is indeed conducting, the composer would know... He might have changed his mind...

[@meylinfox]

OOOOOF They missed that first horn gliss at 0:55

[@geevanh4200]

♥♥♥♥

[@corvus8873]

Marching band trios!

[@veronicasuperswag1924]

our final exam is based on excerpts from this piece

[@dancerswithtalent5901]

Veronica SuperSwag *fails the class

[@geevanh4200]

♥♥♥♥♥

[@willericgreen]

Good stuff, and wittier than his English Dances I think. So different from his nine symphonies...

[@jimstokes6742]

+William Green Indeed, William. First tune reminds me of "All the Pretty Little Horses." And the tune at 4:50 sounds a lot like "A Fellow Needs A Girl." And this is a good performance and recording.

[@alexkije]

The 3rd movement sounds like A FELLA NEEDS A GIRL TO STAND BY HIM from th Allegro musical by Rodgers and Hart.

[@ratfacemcghee6481]

Dont lie: who's here for music homework

[@redfox7266]

Yep...

[@alfiemclellan143]

Yee

[@stephaniediaz4395]

yupppp

[@nd4784]

Idk what the point is, we will never need this in life

[@nd4784]

Riko Dushi yoo Riko it’s Neo lol

[@andycockrum1212]

Malcolm Arnold is a fantastic composer and I feel he is far too unrecognized

[@Glinkaism1]

+Andy Cockrum On the contrary, he is one of the foremost recognized British composers of classical and film music. He won an Academy Award and Grammy for his music for "Bridge on the River Kwai."

[@andycockrum1212]

Roger Wilco exactly. i guess he has been somewhat forgotten, its a shame. hes a great composer.

[@Glinkaism1]

Andy Cockrum Quelle domage!

[@jimstokes6742]

+Andy Cockrum heh

[@julianallen6849]

+Andy Cockrum - He's quite possibly the most badly treated composer (with regard to live performance) that there has ever been. It is really terrible.

[@elvetrovfan]

I suppose it's just me, but the first song sounds vaguely like the theme from Zulu.

[@violetevergarden3127]

6:32 THE OBOEEE

[@geevanh4200]

♥♥♥♥

[@pljms]

Obviously the Proms season being shorter this year because of the pandemic hasn't helped, but it's somehow inevitable that Malcolm Arnold's centenary hasn't been celebrated to the extent it should have been. Just one major work (the 5th symphony) plus a few film themes is a very poor show for a composer who wrote so much beautiful and wonderfully crafted music, the Scottish Dances being a fine example. In fact they and the English and Cornish Dances should be part of the core repertoire of every professional British orchestra as should his symphonies, particularly the 2nd, 5th, 7th and 8th.

[@akrobeau]

Shenanigans

[@chel3SEY]

Oh dear.

[@dancerswithtalent5901]

chel3SEY You can say that again -_-

[@Ace_v120]

it was fun when i played but the last movement was insane

[@geevanh4200]

♥♥♥♥

[@SentryWater]

Is it fair to say that the first movement is off the Dorian mode?

[@alexkije]

not necessarily

[@aniroosh9043]

1:00

[@skyemccuien2998]

This song is gonna make me quit band

[@alexkije]

My wife is rehearsing the clarinet in the first movement for a concert.

[@Turbopee27]

Awtysm ahh song

[@nathanm6138]

No

[@dancerswithtalent5901]

Nathan M No

[@ot3116]

I'm going to be quite honest. this song doesn't go hard :(

[@the_animatedcat]

Cap

[@henrygingercat]

Dreadful.

[@clivepearsall6616]

You cannot be listening.