Thom Ritter George

A SCOTTISH BOUQUET, CN 354 (2002)
 
 

PROGRAM NOTES

Thom Ritter George composed A SCOTTISH BOUQUET in Fall 2002 for Christopher Kraly and the West Bend High School's Philharmonic Orchestra.  The violin soloist was Samantha George, the composer's daughter.

In shaping the music, the composer felt it was important to preserve the character of these lovely Scottish songs.  At the same time, the music shows George's most personal traits - clear formal organization, sonorous scoring, a liking for the sound of open strings, diatonic harmony, and a dramatic pacing of musical events.

I.  Johnny Lad Reel
The JOHNNY LAD REEL is from "Kohler's Violin Repository" (1881-1885).  The tune is a good example of many hearty violin pieces of folk origins.  It has a compelling drive well suited for dancing.

II.  Ye Banks and Braes o' Bonnie Doon
This ingratiating air is one of Robert Burns's most famous songs and is itself based on an earlier one, Ye flowery banks o' bonnie Doon.  It first appeared in Gow's "Second Collection of Strathspey Reels" (1788).

IIIa.  The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond
Many would rightly claim that this is the greatest of all Scottish songs due to the haunting warmth of its tune and text.  Few songs so nobly treat love, death, longing, nature, sentiment, and nostalgia.

    O, ye'll tak the high road, An' I'll tak the low road,
    An I'll be in Scotland afore ye;
    But me and my true love will never meet again,
    On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond.

IIIb.  Eriskay Love Lilt
This haunting song was taken down from the singing of Mary MacInnes in 1909.  The song itself is quite brief, only eight measures, yet these few bars are perfectly balanced and deeply expressive.  The fascination of this music lies in its simplicity which makes the meaning of the song immediately understood.

IV.  A Highland Lad My Love Was Born
This tune is from Robert Burns's cantata "Love and Liberty," published posthumously in 1799.  Burns's words are set to an early dance tune titled The White Cockade.  The melody has a happy robustness and at moments the harmony includes drones of the bagpipes.
 

(TRGcm: Short notes version, 2002.12.10; Pocatello, Idaho)