Relayed from the National Museum of Wales
National Orchestra of Wales
(Cerddorfa Genedlaethol Cymru)
The composer has left it on record that this Suite owes its birth chiefly to Anton Seidl, the conductor, who was the first to arrange the second, third, and fourth numbers for orchestra. These were, however, afterwards entirely altered by the composer himself, and the first number added. Although all four were originally composed as pianoforte music, they are admirably adapted for performance by an orchestra, in which form they gain a new picturesqueness.
The first movement, A Shepherd Boy, is a simple melodious piece, rather like a folk song.
The second is the well-known Norwegian Rustic March, in which the clarinets have the first theme.
In the third movement, Nocturne, the violins have an expressive tune, to a syncopated accompaniment by the lower strings, while the wood-winds suggest bird songs.
The last of the four movements, the merry March of the Dwarfs, runs about in a way which at once suggests the mischievous little people.
(to 12.45)
