Scottish March on Folk Song Themes [Woodwind Quintet]

　"Marche écossaise sur un thème populaire" is a four-hand piano duet composed by Debussy. It is said to be the first work Debussy composed on commission. He considered orchestrating it early on (around 1893?), and an orchestral version was created in 1908 and published in 1911. The initial piano version was titled "Marche des anciens Comtes de Ross," but it was retitled upon republication.
　This work was commissioned by General Meredith Read, a descendant of the Ross family, an old Scottish noble house. It is said that the commission was received in a tavern. General Read asked Debussy to familiarize himself with the melodies of the bagpipes, a traditional Scottish instrument, and to compose a march based on them. Debussy was inspired by the bagpipe melodies and composed this work.
　The piece is structured in a fast-slow-fast three-part form, with motifs played in various ways. You will enjoy the diverse timbres of the woodwind quintet.
(Yuto Yamada)