Orkestsuites

Orkestsuites, or orchestral suites, are collections of instrumental pieces written for orchestra and intended for concert performance. They typically consist of several movements exploring contrasting tempos and moods, often highlighting the coloristic capabilities of the orchestra.

Many orkestsuites are assembled from material originally created for other contexts, such as ballet scores, operas, or incidental music, and later arranged as self-contained concert works. The form has roots in the Baroque dance suite, but in the orchestral handling it emphasizes instrumental color and programmatic or descriptive associations rather than strict dance sequences.

Historically, orchestral suites gained prominence in the 18th century with composers such as Handel, who published Water Music and Music for the Royal Fireworks as suites for large ensembles. In the 19th and 20th centuries the form continued to be used for both festive occasion pieces and compact concert works, including Grieg's Peer Gynt Suites, Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite, and Holst's The Planets, among others.

Today orkestsuites remain a common vehicle for presenting orchestral music in a cohesive, stand-alone package. They serve as showpieces for orchestral color, introductions to larger works, or staples of concert repertoires for audiences and performers alike.