Seven Country Dances – for Flute and Piano

Richard Rodney Bennett’s Seven Country Dances , arranged for Flute and Piano. Premiered by the oboist Nicholas Daniel and the Britten Sinfonia under Nicholas Cleobury’s direction, this suite of seven dances takes its melodies from a 17th-century English fiddle-tune collection, Playford’s Dancing Master . From celebratory to melancholy, Bennett’s pieces weave new colour into ancient songs, reminiscent of the early 20th century folk song masters.