This suite of four orchestral pictures demonstrates why Bax scholars are often found muttering in darkened corners as they try to catalogue his works. First of all, the suite's name also appears as Four Orchestral Sketches and Four Irish Pieces in various versions of the manuscript. Then, not satisfied with the original orchestration, Bax modified the suite significantly in 1928—and renamed three of its components. Pensive Twilight became Evening Piece, Dance in the Sun changed slightly to Dance in the Sunlight and From the Mountains of Home (already renamed In the Hills of Home at an earlier date) rejoiced in the name Irish Landscape. But to add insult to injury, Bax removed the last component (The Dance of Wild Irravel was, for a time, played in concert on its own) without making the obvious numerical change to the overall title.

Nomenclature notwithstanding, this is vintage Bax, if not exactly among his greatest works. All four movements (but the Dance in particular) show signs of the accomplished harmonist and orchestrator that Bax had now become.

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