The second volume of Overtures from the British Isles contains works by Sir Hubert Parry, Sir Alexander Mackenzie, John Ansell, Dame Ethel Smyth, Roger Quilter, and more. These rarely heard works were composed between 1890 and 1945. The pieces show the evolution of the British compositional style, particularly in the usage of harmony. These works are performed by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Rumon Gamba.