1. Introduction - Pavan - Interlude 1

2. Reel - Interlude 2

3. Andamento - Interlude 3

4. Air - Interlude 4

5. Moto perpetuo - Interlude 5

6. Sword dance - Postlude

Alan Bush's 'Suite of Six' is his fourth work for string quartet. It was commissioned by the BBC and received its first performance in December 1975.

Alan Bush says that in this Suite each movement employs one of the six scales in which English national music developed. He continues: "In the introduction these scales appear in the succession in which they occur in the movements; with the postlude this order is reversed. The interludes link the movements thematically and foreshadow the scale of the movement which is about to follow. Three of the movements are in varied dance rhythms, while titles indicate the contrasts in character of the remainder".