Malcolm Stewart, David Davies - Mackenzie: Violin Concerto, Pibroch Suite (2009)

The music of Scottish late-Romantic Sir Alexander Mackenzie is now becoming much better known thanks to the earlier Hyperion recording of his orchestral music, the reception of which had the critics scratching their heads wondering why such attractive music remained neglected for so long. 'Another hugely enjoyable Hyperion rescue act' was how Gramophone received this record, issued a year ago.

This new CD presents first recordings of two of Mackenzie's concerted works for violin, the suite Pibroch also being scored for violin and orchestra. The word 'pibroch' is taken from bagpipe music where it denotes a classical style (usually in variation form) rather than the more usual 'strathspey and reel' type of dance music associated with the instrument. The Concerto, written for Sarasate and much played by him, dates from 1885; Pibroch from four years later.