The Death of Oscar is a miniature tone poem drawing upon the legend of the bardic poet Ossian and the death of his son Oscar. In the legends of Ossian, Oscar challenged the High King Cairbre to single combat and, though victorious, died of his wounds and was mourned by his father and lover.

These tales collected by James MacPherson in the 18th century have long been debated as regards their authenticity, but what is not in doubt is the massive influence they had on perceptions of Scottish an...