The Scottish Fantasy

The Scottish Fantasy was composed in Berlin, Germany
in 1879-80 by Max Bruch born 1838/died 1920.

The complete name for The Scottish Fantasy is:
(Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra and Harp freely using Scottish Folk Melodies, in E-flat Major,Op.46).
Bruch's melodic source for the Scottish Fantasy was The Scots Musical Museum -
an anthology of 600 scots songs collected by James Johnson.
He also wrote the well known -Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 26 for violin.

In the Adagio cantablile the violinist plays the tune:

"Thro the Wood Laddie."
"O Sandy, why leaves thou thy Nelly to mourn?
Thy presence cou'd safe me, When naething can please me,
Now dowie I sigh on the banks of the burn, Or thro the wood, laddie until thou return."

The Slack Burn

The lively dance marked allegro is:

"Dusty Miller."
"Hey the dusty Miller, And his dusty coat, He won a shilling, Or he spend a groat.
Dusty was the coat,Dusty was the color,
Dusty was the kiss That I got frae the Miller."

The andante has the song:

"I'm a doun, doun, doun, I'm a doun for lack o Johnnie; Gin Johnnie kent I was na weel,
I'm sure he would come to me; But oh! gin he's forsaken me,Och hone!
What will come o me!"

Kilchurn Castle

The finale opens with:
the March of Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn.
"Scots wha hae wi Wallace bled, Scots wham Bruce has aften led,
Welcome to your gory bed, Or to victory.
Now's the day, and now's the hour, See the front of battle low'r.
See approach proud Edwards pow'r, Chains and Slavery."

The Scottish fantasy was written for Pablo de Sarasate,
but the premiere was given by Joseph Joachim in 1881.
The Scottish Fantasy was one of Jascha Heifetz's signature pieces.

Available sheet music editions Bruch Scottish Fantasy Op.46 from Shar
Schott 1083-007 $19.95 - edited by Rostal Schirmer 1083-110 $7.95 - edited by Zimbalist International 1083-111 $14.00 - edited by Galamian
RECORDINGS
Midori Sony Classics - September 20, 1994 Salvatore Accardo Uni/Philips - March 17, 1998 Jascha Heifetz Bmg/Rca Victor - January 1, 1987
Cho-Liang Lin Sony Classics - January 1, 1987 Akiko Suwanai Uni/Philips - November 11, 1997 Tasmin Little EMI Eminence release - February 1997

~ website and graphics © Sheila K. Helser ~
graphics not available for download or use in a collection
return to sheilascorner.com