234 Scottish Fantasy
Bruch

Down 33, to its lowest ever chart position. 3rd of Bruch's 4 entries.

Like many composers, Max Bruch was captivated by both the idea and the sound of folk music. Nowhere is this more evident than in his Scottish Fantasy for violin and orchestra.

Despite the fact that Bruch was a virtual stranger to Scotland at the time he wrote his Scottish Fantasy, there is nothing to suggest that the work is based on anything other than wholly authentic Scottish melodies. Interestingly, Bruch uses a harp in the Scottish Fantasy — strongly suggesting he thought the instrument was a central part of authentic Scottish folk music. Whether he had actually heard a Celtic harp played at the time he wrote the piece is still very much open to debate.

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'Kilchern Castle, with the Cruchan Ben Mountains, Scotland Noon' by William Turner.