This ten-minute symphonic poem is one of the most striking and original of all Carl Nielsen's compositions. It is inspired by a Nordic legend called Njal's Saga. Gunnar of Hildarend, travelling with is brothers, makes an arduous crossing of the Tjors River. They stop to rest. He fell asleep and it was obvious he was having a dream. One of his brother's suggested waking him, but the other said "No! Let him sleep and dream his dream." The mood of the Saga-Dream comes from that line. It opens with a quiet and thoughtful introduction for strings. The music tried to form a chorale, but it floats away into formlessness like a dream. A fugal section again hints a the strands of the dream, and leads into a strange free-form cadenza for several instruments in which the voices of nature seem to be conversing. This is a strikingly "modern" passage, yet it is an exceptionally magical and beautiful moment. After that the chorale returns and coalesces into a more complete form, and a rested and tranquil coda finishes the work.

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