Holberg Suite, Op. 40 (Aus Holbergs Zeit)

Subtitled “Suite in olden style,” this five-movement suite was written to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Dano-Norwegian humanist playwright Ludvig Holberg. Each movement is based on 18th-century dance forms and styles, but written from an 19th-century perspective, serving as a harbinger of the neoclassicism movement to follow. Originally written for piano, Grieg arranged the work for string orchestra only a year after originally composed. While not as well-known as his incidental music from PEER GYNT, many consider this work to be of equal quality. A count of 8-8-5-5-5 strings are included in the set.