The Suite über 6 schweizerische Volkslieder für Orchester ( Suite on Six Swiss Folk Songs) is an orchestral piece by Rolf Liebermann, composed in 1944 and published in 1947. [1] It was performed for the first time on 16 October 1949 by Leopold Stokowski with the New York Philharmonic at the Carnegie Hall, New York. [2]
The suite was composed during the second world war. At that time patriotism was a more common element in Swiss arts. Rolf Liebermann dedicated this composition to Paul Burkhard, a Swiss composer who pioneered in incorporating Swiss themes in classical music. The light style in which the Swiss songs were arranged, show the influence of Ferruccio Busoni's " Young Classicism". [3]
The suite consists of six parts:
It is orchestrated for w flutes, 2 oboes alternating with English horns, 2 clarinets in B♭, 2 bassoons, 2 French horns in F, harp. A performance lasts about 11 minutes. [1]