Scottish Fantasy By Max Bruch: A Coeur d'Alene Symphony Concert Preview

In the winter of 1879-1880, composer Max Bruch composed a four movement composition for violin and orchestra called Scottish Fantasy. Dedicated to virtuoso violinist Pablo de Sarasate, this composition is a fantasy piece based on Scottish folk songs "I'm A' Doun for Lack O' Johnnie", "The Dusty Miller", "Through the Wood Laddie" and "Hey Tuttie Tatie". Even though it was dedicated to Sarasate, Hungarian violinist Joseph Joachim, who was also a conductor, teacher and composer, helped Bruch with the bowing and fingerings of the solo part of the Scottish Fantasy.

Scottish Fantasy premiered in Liverpool, England in 1881 with Bruch leading the Liverpool Philharmonic Society and Joachim as the soloist. Unfortunately, Bruch disliked Joachim's performance saying that the violinist ruined his work. The piece was performed once again in 1883 with Sarasate as the soloist.

A few other well known violinists that have performed the Scottish Fantasy include Itzhak Perlman, Rachel Barton Pine, Akiko Suwanai, Cho-Liang Lin and Jascha Heifetz (shown here)

Come and listen to the Coeur d'Alene Symphony Orchestra as they play Bruch's Scottish Fantasy with concertmaster and assistant conductor Phillip Baldwin on violin in a Scottish themed concert titled Scotland Forever. This program will also include Felix Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 3 (the Scottish Symphony) and Hebrides Overture and it will be at The Kroc Center in beautiful Coeur d'Alene, Idaho on October 12th at 7:30 PM and again on October 13th at 2:00 PM.

Tickets are $20.00 for adults, $15.00 for seniors and $8.00 for students with ID.