Mendelssohn was not the only continental composer enchanted with the music and poetry of Scotland (discounting the écossaise dance, and its associated music, which captivated many renowned composers). This month's CCM features a sample of Weber's 10 Scottish Melodies, performed on period instruments (note the presence of Bylsma). The poetry is by that most famous of Scottish poets, Robert Burns, and indeed the work was commissioned in 1825 by Burns' friend, George Thomson. This is, incidentally, the same Thomson who commissioned Haydn and Beethoven so many times.