Aficionados will not mind hearing, yet again, those trademark Maxwell Davies devices of whooping horn glissandos and hyperactive chattering trumpets, especially when delivered with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra’s bombproof expertise; and Ben Gernon’s conducting of both works is forthright and immaculate

[Maxwell Davies’s] long and fruitful association with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra included a previous recording of the Orkney Wedding, but Linn’s engineering is superior and crucially places Robert Jorgan’s climactic bagpipe solo towards centre stage. Ben Gernon secures playing of even greater spirit and accuracy than the composer, replete with shouts of glee

this disc affords a fond farewell to the composer and the musical realisation of his adopted Orkney...And the idea behind the title piece, bagpipes at daybreak, again proves itself unbeatable.

a worthy and deeply felt portrait of Max’s Orkney...The SCO and Ben Gernon are totally committed; guitarist Sean Shibe adds the tiny Hill Runes and the ever touching, ever so simple Farewell to Stromness.