Sérénade, Op. 15, No. 1

Agathe Bäcker Grøndahl was a prolific composer who wrote over 400 compositions, mostly piano pieces and art songs spanning over 70 opus numbers. She was especially interested in Norwegian folk melodies. Much of her writing reflects the unique culture and traditions of life in Norway. Sérénade is the first of the Trois morceaux, Opus 15, a suite of three piano pieces. This piece is a charming and exuberant example of a simple A-B-A song form. The contrasting B section features a breath-taking mini-cadenza before the A section returns, fading to it’s inevitable conclusion.