Track Listing

1. Serenade for strings, Op. 11: Preludium
2. Serenade for strings, Op. 11: Andante espressivo
3. Serenade for strings, Op. 11: Scherzo: Allegro vivace - Trio: Poco meno molto
4. Serenade for strings, Op. 11: Marcia: Tempo di marcia, molto ritmico
5. Icelandic Melodies (2) for orchestra, Nos 1 & 2 (complete): No. 1. Maestoso
6. Icelandic Melodies (2) for orchestra, Nos 1 & 2 (complete): No. 2. Moderato
7. Fra Holbergs tid (From Holberg’s Time), for string orchestra ('Holberg Suite'), Op. 40: Praelude: Allegro vivace
8. Fra Holbergs tid (From Holberg’s Time), for string orchestra ('Holberg Suite'), Op. 40: Sarabande: Andante
9. Fra Holbergs tid (From Holberg’s Time), for string orchestra ('Holberg Suite'), Op. 40: Gavotte: Allegretto - Musette: Poco più mosso
10. Fra Holbergs tid (From Holberg’s Time), for string orchestra ('Holberg Suite'), Op. 40: Air: Andante religoso
11. Fra Holbergs tid (From Holberg’s Time), for string orchestra ('Holberg Suite'), Op. 40: Rigaudon: Allegro con brio - Poco meno mosso
12. Ifjol gjætt' e gjeitinn (Last year I was tending the goats), variations for orchestra after a Norwegian folksong, Op. 31
13. Swedish Folk-Melodies (2), for string orchestra, Op. 27: No. 1. Allt under himmelens fäste: Adagio
14. Swedish Folk-Melodies (2), for string orchestra, Op. 27: No. 2. Du gamla, du friska, du fjellhöga Nord: Moderato
15. Little Suite, for string orchestra in A minor, FS 6 (Op. 1): Präludium: Andante con moto
16. Little Suite, for string orchestra in A minor, FS 6 (Op. 1): Intermezzo: Allegro moderato
17. Little Suite, for string orchestra in A minor, FS 6 (Op. 1): Finale: Andante con moto - Allegro con brio - Più mosso

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #118146 in Music
• Released on: 1995-05-09
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Customer Reviews

Wonderful selection of works for strings...
Grieg is unfortunately often credited with having composed only two masterpieces: his single piano concerto and the incidental music to Peer Gynt. I disagree and the work contained on this bargain Naxos release, his "Holdberg Suite", ranks up there with the Serenades of Tchaikovsky, Dvorak, and Suk as a masterpiece for string orchestra.

On this disc, rather than pair the work up with other compositions by Grieg, Naxos has provided us with some wonderful performances of less frequently heard works for similar forces by fellow Scandinvian composers.

The other major pieces here, if you can call them major, are Nielsen's "Little Suite in A Minor" and Wiren's "Serenade". Though composed by Nielsen when he was only 23 the Suite more than hints at the more mature Nielsen of the symphonies, especially in the finale. Wiren's work is much lighter and a delight from start to finish especially in the playful scherzo and the familiar fourth movement - the "marcia".

Johan Svendsen, a contemporary of Grieg, is represented by five shorter works, all based upon folk songs and all with a very melancholy feel to them.

The entire disc is beautifully performed by the the Bournemouth Sinfonietta under the direction of Richard Studt. Also the quality of the recording is up to Naxos' usual high standards providing excellent definition and clarity to the performances.

Beautiful!
When it comes to composing for and playing strings, I will go out on the limb and say that no group of musicians does it better than the Scandinavians. This cd caught my attention after hearing Johan Svendsen's "Icelandic Melodies". That alone I thought would be worth the discounted Naxos price. But after hearing the rest (especially Grieg's "Holberg Suite" and Dag Wiren's "Serenade for Strings"), I can't seem to get this out of my cd changer. It's always nice to find a cd where you get twice the pleasure for half the price!