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GRIEG arr.Seymour – Holberg Suite, Op.40 (complete) – 5 CELLOS OR LARGER CELLO ENSEMBLE

Other Identification:
The Holberg Suite (formally titled “from Holberg’s time” and subtitled “in olden style”) was composed by Grieg in 1884 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Danish- Norwegian playwright Ludvig Holberg. It takes its structure from the forms of the 18th century.
Grieg’s original version was for piano – the version for strings appeared a year later.

Movements or sections:
Timings:
Using the original metronome markings, the names and duration of the five movements are approximately:
1. Praelude = 2minutes:30 seconds
2. Sarabande = 4:40
3. Gavotte + Musette = 3:20
4. Air = 4:20
5. Rigaudon = 3:20

Instrumentation:
QUINTET OF FIVE CELLOS, OR CELLO ORCHESTRA
Arranged by famed arranger Gwyn Seymour in 2013

This music is in 3 PDFs:
1 – General Score
2 – Cellos 1, 2, and 3
3 – Cellos 4 and 5

Approximate difficulty:
The present arrangement for 5-part Cello Ensemble (or 5 solo cellos) is of moderate to advanced difficulty. The melody lines have been shared among the parts to a greater degree than in the original string orchestra version, although Cello 1 tends to take the lead. The five movements (Praelude, Sarabande, Gavotte with Musette, Air and Rigaudon) are in the keys of the original string orchestra version.
However, an alternative version of the Rigaudon has also been included in C major rather than G Major, so that the very fast upper lines lie “under the hand” in first position, as they do in the first violin parts of the original string orchestral version. The C major version also makes it easier to play the main tune “spiccato”, as marked by Grieg.
The main tune of the Air has been written at the exact pitch of the first violin part in the string orchestra version. However, an ossia version an octave lower has also been included in this arrangement to be used as an alternative, if desired.

Dedicatee of this presentation (if applicable):
This arrangement was made for James Halsey and members of the Giant Cello Ensemble to perform at the annual Aboyne Cello Festival (in Aberdeenshire, Scotland) on 20th July 2013.
All texts on this page by Gwyn Seymour, Stonehaven, Scotland May 2013

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