This five-movement work was commissioned by the BBC for performance by its orchestra in Cardiff. The wording of the commission specified that the work should be based on Welsh folk-music. However, rather than employing folk tunes as such, the composer decided to develop short rhythmic or melodic elements present in some of those. In fact, only two traditional melodies appear in the work. A short quotation from one is used as a counterpoint in the second movement and the melody in the fourth movement consists of an embellished variant of "Lisa Lan".