A late work, written in 1943, it is scored for 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 3 clarinets, basset horn, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, contrabasson and 4 horns. The piece is subtitled "From an Invalid's Workshop" because the composer was recovering from an illness when he wrote it. It comprises three movements. The first, Allegro moderato, is a playful sonata allegro whose first subject has some resemblance to the recently written second horn concerto, whereas the second subject is more melancholic. There are moments where the music is permeated by the atmosphere of Der Rosenkavalier. The second movement is a more sedated Romanze und Menuett, where the mood darkens at moments. the third, Molto allegro, which places high demands on the players, is extraordinarily long. A happy mood prevails, leading to an extensive coda.

© Hector Bellman, Rovi