In Robert Burns’ famous poem Tam O’Shanter, Tam arrives in Alloway Kirk to witness a wild scene of witches and warlocks dancing to music supplied by the devil himself. As the poet describes:

There sat aul Nick, in shape o’ beast A touzie tyke, black, grim, and large! To gie them music was his charge: He screw’d the pipes and gart them skirl. Till roof and rafters a’ did dirl.

This drunken orgy must have been !uite a spectacle and this suite of dances offers perhaps a brief insight into what was probably a memorable evening with ‘auld Nick’ in charge of the disco. Originally written for symphony orchestra in 2023, this transcription for clarinet quintet was made the following year.