Among the wide variety of orchestral works in Malcolm Arnold's huge catalogue (symphonies, sinfoniettas, ouvertures, concertos, etc) shows up, by its own idiosyncrasy and inmediate attention, the different cycles of symphonic dances whom, kind of a musical map of Great Britain, were composed by his author since the middle of the century. Inaugurated with the two crisping cycles of English Dances, works almost twins in time, the other four cycles goes through Scotland, Cornwall, Ireland and Wales, each of them revisited on a different decade, and offering a curious sensation of wholeness; all and every one of them had four movements, and use a brilliant orchestral colour, with special attention to the rhythm and timbre difference of each region. As happens on the majority of Arnold's scores, the audience will have the sensation that, under an spectacular and attractive orchestral use, there is something more, unveiling on the grave moments of each of the cycles a part of the dramatic image of an assorted group of nations.

English Dances, Set 1, op.27 (1950) - 8:32
English Dances, Set 2, op.33 (1951) - 9:20
Four Scottish Dances, op.59 (1957) - 8:49
Four Cornish Dances, op.91 (1966) - 10:05
Four Irish Dances, op.126 (1986) - 7:50
Four Welsh Dances, op.138 (1990) - 10:02
Queensland Symphony Orchestra - Conductor: Andrew Penny
NAXOS 8.553526 / 55'

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