Grieg: Holberg Suite, Op.40

Introduction

The Holberg Suite, Op. 40, more properly "From Holberg's Time" (Norwegian: Frå Holbergs tid, German: Aus Holbergs Zeit), subtitled "Suite in olden style" (Norwegian: Suite i gammel stil, German: Suite im alten Stil), is a suite of five movements based on eighteenth century dance forms, written by Edvard Grieg in 1884 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Danish-Norwegian humanist playwright Ludvig Holberg.

It exemplifies nineteenth century music which makes use of musical styles and forms from the preceding century.

The movements of the suite are:

1. Praeludium (Allegro vivace)
2. Sarabande (Andante)
3. Gavotte (Allegretto)
4. Air (Andante religioso)
5. Rigaudon (Allegro con brio)

The Holberg Suite was originally composed for the piano, but a year later was adapted by Grieg himself for string orchestra. The suite consists of an introduction and a set of dances. It is an early essay in neo-classicism, an attempt to echo as much as was known in Grieg's time of the music of Holberg's era.

Although it is not as famous as Grieg's incidental music from Peer Gynt, which is itself usually performed as arranged in a pair of suites, many critics regard the works as of equal merit.