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The dances were composed in 1957 by Malcolm Arnold and are dedicated to the ������̳ Light Music Festival. As a collective, they are intended to portray Scotland and use timbres intended to imitate the bagpipes, as well as dances associated with the country.

Structure

The suite is in four movements:

1. pesante
2. vivace
3. allegretto
4. con brio

Instrumentation and timbrey

The dances were composed for an orchestra which consisted of piccolo, flute, two clarinets in B♭, two bassoons, four horns in F, two trumpets in B♭, 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 tempo and style marking.

Dance 1 is a bpm of 104, with the instruction to be played pesante. It is in the style of a slow strathspey, which is a reel played at a slightly slower tempo in 4/4. Typical of the style, the movement features a Scotch snap rhythm - a very short accented note followed by a longer note.

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 of E♭. 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♭.

Dance 3 is in the style of a Hebridean song in 3/4 time. The tempo is marked crotchet = 96 and to be played allegretto. The movement conveys the impression of the sea and mountain scenery on a calm summer’s day in the Hebrides.

Dance No. 4 is a lively Highland fling in 2/4 time. The tempo is a bpm of 144 with the instruction con brio. The movement feature a triplet figure throughout.