GENRE; Classical/ Classic Sound/ Contemporary/ Instrumental/ Cinematic 

RELEASE DATE; 31 July , 2026

RATING; 4/5

‘Little Dutch Rhapsody No. 1’ takes an entertaining piece of Dutch folklore and presents it in a totally different context. The inspiration is drawn from the folk song ‘Ain boer wol noar zien noaber tou’, which is about a farmer setting off with only one shoe. Although this is an odd choice as the starting point for a concert piece, it does work. In his version Sergiy Bolotny retains some of the light-hearted mood of the original while adapting the piece so that it is written entirely for solo violin. The final result has the feel of being rooted in tradition without sounding like a simple copy of the original.

There is a great deal for the violin to deal with in the piece. In some sections the pace is fast, the quick movements between the strings supplying the performance with a lot of energy, whereas in others the speed is reduced so that the more lyrical aspect of the composition can appear. The variation helps to keep the piece interesting, especially since the lighter dance rhythms are combined with more difficult passages. Despite the technical demands there, the playful nature of the original story is never entirely forgotten.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the recording is Bolotny’s handling of the folk material. Instead of just playing the melody from start to end, he has taken a well-known traditional idea and given it a great deal of freedom. The violin is the main feature of the recording and the natural acoustic quality contributes to this effect. You can clearly hear the instrument, including the transition from the faster sections to the quieter ones, with nothing interfering.

The piece “Little Dutch Rhapsody No. 1” has a certain charm which results from the blend of its odd story and the demanding violin music. The folk melody imparts character to the work right from the beginning, and the difficult sections demonstrate the great amount that can be achieved with one instrument. Bolotny has discovered a good method of incorporating Dutch folklore into a classical context without losing its humour. The piece is full of character, energy and has a clear link to the tradition it is based on.

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