REWIND

Great artists talk about their past recordings

MY FINEST MOMENT

Scottish Fantasies for Violin and Orchestra 

Rachel Barton Pine (violin); Scottish Chamber Orchestra/ Alexander Platt Cedille CDR9000083 (2005)

As a passionate fiddler I was so excited by the chance to combine the worlds of traditional and classical music. Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy is such a beloved masterpiece that we all know, but Pablo de Sarasate’s Scottish Airs had never been recorded with orchestra before, and it’s even more earthy than the Bruch. The other composer who wrote a major work in Scottish style for Sarasate was Alexander Campbell Mackenzie, the great Scottish composer. So highlighting his Pibroch Suite alongside the Bruch, where it deserves to live, was a real thrill.

The album ends with a twin fiddle medley. It was the first time I’d ever orchestrated anything myself, and just hearing something that I’d written for strings, winds and tympani played by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra was really special. There’s no better orchestra to experience that with, and once I told them that I was thinking of it being less European and more Celtic, they knew exactly what I meant and they brought that flavour so beautifully to life.