De Frumerie was a typical member of a generation of Swedish composers who, in the 1930s, tended to write neo-classical works of cool elegance, solidly tonal, and generally lyrical. This suite for flute solo was originally composed with piano accompaniment in 1933. In 1940, de Frumerie prepared a version with accompaniment of strings and harp, creating a very nice concerted work for flute, easy on the audience's ears and undemanding in form. Although the titles of the movements are reminiscent of those used in J.S. Bach suites, the mood of the music is Romantic.

De Frumerie wrote that he likes to "squeeze the orange of a theme dry, " exhausting all of its possibilities. The suite has a tendency to use melodies which resemble popular songs in their use of short phrases, and in their pace and cadences. The first movement is melancholy and gentle. The middle three movements are stately dances, with rich flute writing, while the finale ends in the mood of a lullaby. A very attractive 13-minute piece.

© Joseph Stevenson, Rovi