“With this concert so close to St. Patrick’s Day it is a perfect opportunity to showcase works which have connections to the British Isles,” says Diane Wittry, Allentown Symphony Orchestra Music Director and Conductor.

Allentown Symphony Orchestra presents “From the Scottish Highlands,” 7:30 p.m. March 9 and 2 p.m. March 10, Miller Symphony Hall, Allentown.

The concert opens with “The Bamboula, Rhapsodic Dance, Op. 75,” written in 1910 by English composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.

“Bamboula is the name of a drum and a dance brought to America by African slaves. Much of Coleridge-Taylor’s music sought to integrate African traditions with Western classical music,” Wittry says.

“Bamboula” is from his 1905 work, “Twenty-Four Negro Melodies,” a collection of African and African-American songs presented as a collection of folk music. Initially composed for piano, Coleridge-Taylor expanded the work into the 10-minute “Rhapsodic Dance.”

The concert continues with the “Scottish Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra and Harp, Op. 46” by German composer Max Bruch.

Composed in 1880, it is a four-movement fantasy on Scottish folk melodies, including “Through the Wood Laddie,” “The Dusty Miller,” “I’m A’Doun for Lack O’Johnnie” and “Hey Tuttie Tatie.” The latter is a traditional Scottish air alleged to have been played by the army of Robert the Bruce, King of the Scots, before the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 and during the Siege of Orléans in 1429.

“This piece is very virtuosic. Development of the melody really showcases the violinist. However, Bruch’s use of the harp in various sections indicates it is as important as the violin,” says Wittry.

Violin soloist Timothy Chooi returns for his second performance with the Allentown Symphony, having performed in 2019 as the first-place prize winner of the 2018 ASO Schadt String Competition. Says Wittry, “He blew everyone away and I really wanted him back for another concert.”

A popular soloist and recitalist, Chooi is sought after as much for his passionate performances as his wide-ranging repertoire. A recipient of numerous awards and honors, he was recently awarded the coveted “Prix Paternot,” which recognizes a promising and accomplished international artist at the prestigious Verbier Festival in Switzerland.

Chooi’s most recent artistic collaboration was a tour with Anne-Sophie Mutter and the Mutter Virtuosi where they performed in Europe’s most notable concert halls such as the Musikverein in Vienna, Theatre des Champs-Elysees in Paris and the Berlin Philharmonie.

In addition to his performing career he is a founding member of The Vision Collective, an ensemble of musicians and composers that utilizes music to highlight refugee and immigrant voices and stories.

An avid educator with a passion for sharing his international experience with young musicians, Chooi is Professor of Violin at the University of Ottawa, Canada. He performs on the “Titan” Guarneri Del Gesu made in 1741 from Canimex, Inc., Drummondville, Quebec, Canada, and a 1709 “Engleman” Stradivarius on loan from the Nippon Music Foundation in Japan.

After intermission, the concert continues with the “Symphony in E minor, Op. 32 “Gaelic” by American composer Amy Beach. Composed in 1894, the “Gaelic” Symphony was the first symphony composed and published by a female American composer.

“In fact,” says Wittry, “Beach was the very first American composer to quote folk songs as thematic material.”

Beach’s attendance at the premiere of Antonin Dvorák’s “New World” Symphony was the inspiration which led her to create her only symphony of songs from her ancestral British heritage. The Boston Symphony premiered the “Gaelic” Symphony in 1896.

“The composition styles of our program’s three works are very similar,” notes Wittry. “Each is based upon folk music and melodies and represents the grass roots of the people.

“It’s unfortunate, but two of the composers were very limited in their careers. Samuel Taylor-Coleridge passed away at age 37 and owing to the status of women of the time period, Amy Beach’s performance and compositional career was a mere 34 years,” says Wittry. “One wonders what additional achievements they could have accomplished.”

“From the Scottish Highlands,” Allentown Symphony Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. March 9; 2 p.m. March 10, Miller Symphony Hall, 23 N. Sixth St., Allentown; Tickets: box office; 610-432-6715; https://www.millersymphonyhall.org

“Classical View” is a column about classical music concerts, conductors and performers. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnon-line.com