Robert Burns Suite for Horn Quartet by Hugh Levey
The Robert Burns Suite for Horn Quartet is a four movement work, based on the well-known Burns’ songs; My Love She’s But a Lassie Yet, Ye Banks and Braes o’ Bonnie Doon, The Deil’s Awa’ Wi’ the Exciseman, and Auld Lang Syne. Although Burns wrote the words of the songs, he set them to existing Scottish traditional tunes. This arrangement lasts approximately 10 minutes in duration.
* My Love She’s But a Lassie Yet (Lady Badinscoth’s Reel)
* Ye Banks and Braes o’ Bonnie Doon (The Caledonian Hunt’s Delight)
* The Deil’s Awa’ wi’ the Exciseman
* Auld Lang Syne (for recital or to accompany singing)
The movements can be played separately but are presented here as a suite, with a suggested order. Movement 1 begins with a stately ‘classical’ arrangement of My Love She’s But a Lassie Yet, but as it develops the tune combines with another traditional melody, followed by some operatic quotations, and a fugue. It ends with an embellished restatement of the opening.
Movement 2 opens with gentle chords that accompany the simple yet beautiful melody of Ye Banks and Braes. In the middle section all players get snippets of the tune and a newly written countermelody.
Movement 3 begins almost exactly as they appeared in The Scots Musical Museum, published by James Johnson & Co between 1787 and 1803. All players instruments get the opportunity to play the melodic line in the ensuing 5 verses, as the arrangement gets more complex and fun. The composer makes great use of the tritone; or “devil’s interval” as it is often known because of its unsettling presence. However, in this arrangement it merely adds to the fun and excitement.
Movement 4 is a simple arrangement of Auld Lang Syne, in a key that is suitable to accompany solo or community singing. After a short introduction by Horn 3, Horns 1 and 2 play verse one accompanied by ‘bagpipe’ drones from the other two players. The final verse is in majestic four part harmony to bring a rousing end to this popular Burns song and the suite.