From Holberg's Time, op. 40

The Holberg Suite by Edvard Grieg masterfully blends the elegance of the Baroque with the emotional depth of Romanticism. Written in 1884 to commemorate the 200th birthday of Norwegian playwright Ludvig Holberg, the work pays tribute to one of Bergen's most prominent sons. Holberg, born in 1684, a year before Bach and Handel, shaped the cultural landscape of his time as a philosopher, poet, and humorist. To honor his legacy, Grieg originally composed a piano suite, which he later arranged for string orchestra during a journey to Berlin. This Suite in Olden Style remains one of Grieg's most celebrated compositions.

In the Holberg Suite, Grieg revives the dance forms of the late Baroque, presenting traditional dances like the Sarabande, Gavotte, Musette, and Rigaudon in a romantic style. The suite opens with a lively Praeludium, featuring dotted rhythms reminiscent of French Baroque overtures. The first dance, the Sarabande, is sweet and dreamlike, shedding the heavy earthiness often associated with Baroque music, particularly in the middle section led by the violas.

The Gavotte and the following Musette radiate joy and rustic charm, with the Musette, named after an old bagpipe instrument, evoking a folksy, almost earthy atmosphere. The Air in G minor provides a melancholic counterpoint, which Grieg referred to as a "religious Andante"—a quiet prayer that calls to mind Bach's famous Air.

The suite concludes with a lively Rigaudon, a fast-paced dance with a distinctive rhythm, supported by pizzicato strings. In this movement, Grieg transforms the Baroque form into a light, airy rondo. The Holberg Suite stands as one of the great works for string orchestra of the late Romantic period, often compared to Dvořák’s and Tchaikovsky’s string serenades.