George Thomson

In the decades since its founding, the Scottish National Orchestra has earned a reputation as a distinguished ensemble with an extensive concert schedule, wide-ranging repertoire, and a significant representation on recordings. The SNO is the direct descendant of the Scottish Orchestra, founded in Glasgow in 1890; with the establishment of the Scottish National Orchestra Society in 1950 with monies from Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and Dundee, the SNO became a permanent ensemble. Throughout its first 40 years, the Scottish Orchestra had no permanent principal conductor, instead relying on a series of eminent guest conductors.

Supertramp followed an unusual path to commercial success in the 1970s, fusing the stylistic ambition and instrumental dexterity of progressive rock with the wit and tuneful melodies of British pop, and the results made them one of the most popular British acts of the '70s and ‘80s, topping the charts and filling arenas around the world at a time when their style of music was supposed to have fallen out of fashion…

Seascapes (1991)
Classical/Instrumental | EAC | FLAC+log+cue | front cover only | CHAN 6538 | 1CD | 289 MB

A collection of classical instrumental works, with a focus on the sea. Featuring traditional British composers such as Vaughan Williams and Britten, lesser known composers such as Arnold Bax and Frank Bridge also make an appearance. No 'sea collection' would be complete without Mendelssohn's Fingal's Cave. Foreign composers like Berlioz and Sibelius make an energetic and light contribution respectively, but the CD has an overtly English feel.