Harald Saeverud (1897-1992) was primarily an orchestral composer – witness his fine symphonies and concertos (BIS, 8/98, 10/00) – but some of his most popular pieces started out as numbers in folk-inspired piano suites. Later, these were orchestrated with characteristic élan, such as Rondo amoroso, a winsome miniature beautifully laid out here for oboe, bassoon and small orchestra, or the gently exuberant Peasant Brooch Tune, both originating in his Easy Pieces for piano. The pretty Mill Tune and Her Last Lullaby both came from the Second Suite of Tunes and Dances from Siljustøl (1940-42), though lack the brilliance of its most famous number, Ballad of Revolt (12/96, 3/02).

The disc opens, however, with the finale to the First Symphony (1920): Overtura appassionata was the concluding section of the original finale but was revised in 1939 as an independent work. As the title suggests, it is volatile, full of romantic fervour and extremes of mood. So, too, is Siljudance (1942), a vigorous but heavy-footed peasant dance, after Overtura appassionata the longest single movement here. Although designed to showcase Saeverud’s talent as a miniaturist, it is the larger items that impress most, not least the Divertimento for flute and orchestra (1939), delightfully blown here by Vidar Austvik. Best of all, though, is the fun of the Shepherd’s Tune Variations of 1940. Ole Kristian Ruud once more draws vibrant performances from the Stavanger Symphony and the BIS sound is, as usual, a marvel.