Fl. Afl. (guit/kbd) -
Intermediate-Advanced
SKU: FT.FM628
A
set of dances for flute
and alto flute duet.
Composed by Alexandra
Lehmann. A set of dances
for flute and alto flute
duet. Score. Forton Music
#FM628. Published by
Forton Music (FT.FM628).
ISBN
9790570485277.
‘P
lateau of Dances with a
Scottish Flavour’
Plateau of Dances with a
Scottish Flavour was
composed in autumn 2016,
Eastbourne, and is
inspired by my childhood
in Doune, Perthshire; as
well as the Ceilidhs and
Fèis (cultural festival
in the Highlands) my
daughter, Clara, and I
were immersed in when we
lived in the picturesque
village of Kingussie,
Badenoch and Strathspey.
The four dances are a
celebration of my love
and nostalgia for
Scotland, and an
expression of my
family’s Scottish
memories. Each dance
comes with a quote from
my favourite poet, Robert
Burns, whose insightful
and sensitive
observations are a
poignant appreciation of
everyday life. Why the
reference to Scottish
food? Because this piece
is dedicated to my
father, Papou, who
appreciates a merry
supper. The 1st Movement,
'To the Mighty Haggis',
is a Strathspey with its
characteristic Scotch
snap -a short-long
rhythm, as if saying the
word ‘haggis’; which
is fitting as the
Scottish bard’s quote
comes from his poem
Address to a Haggis,
traditionally said on
Burns’ Night. The 2nd
Movement, 'The Humble
Shortbread', is a Reel;
as is usually the case in
Scottish dances. It
should be played with a
slightly ‘snappy’,
swung rhythm. 'What
though on homely fare we
dine, [...] A man is a
man for all that' comes
from my favourite
Burns’ poem: A Man's a
Man for A' That. And who
doesn’t enjoy the
humble shortbread? There
is a more reflective,
nostalgic mood to the 3rd
Movement, 'Ode to the
Homely (salty) Porridge'.
The Air is a reminiscence
of the quiet evenings
Clara and I would spend
in Kingussie, with our
view of the beautifully
haunting mountains. 'What
will I get to my supper,
[...] Ye'se get a panfu'
o' plumpin parridge'
comes from Burns’ The
Shepherd’s Wife who
tries to entice her
husband back home with
the promise of porridge
(the Scottish way: with
salt). Finally, the 4th
Movement, 'Too Many Drams
of Whisky', is a cheerful
and lively Jig. It’s
the convivial merriness
of being with friends and
family, maybe at a
Ceilidh, with a wink to
Scotland’s ‘water of
life’. 'We'll tak a cup
o' kindness yet, For auld
lang syne' comes from
Burns’ famous Auld Lang
Syne: a fitting end to
our musical and culinary
tour of Scotland.