This album is a celebration of a great Australian gentleman of the violin, Donald Scotts. Don was a star of his generation-Associate Concertmaster of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, leader of the Melbourne String Quartet, and a soloist of rare gifts. And to me, he was Mr Scotts–my beloved violin teacher of twelve years.

Many albums could have been assembled from the treasures in this eclectic collection, but encore pieces seemed an obvious choice-Don delighted in miniature masterworks, with a natural affinity for Kreisler in particular. My aim in this album was to compile a set of pieces that represented Don as I remembered him–to try and conjure something of his sparkle and charm, and his mischievous, gentle sense of humour. Don had always taken special pleasure in Kreisler’s elegant Spanish arrangements, so Danse Espagnole by Manuel de Falla, Glazunov’s Serenade Espagnole, and, most beloved of all, Chaminade’s Serenade Espagnole, were essential choices.