The first of the pieces recalls the Swedish folksong Little Spider Climbs the Wall It is all great fun, as is the Ouverture based on the American national anthem. Just hear the wonderful songlike second theme in track 2: well worth the whole disc. Even Gade comes to mind. Hägg is a tragic case. He started off as one of the most promising Swedish composing talents of all time, but came to a standstill when he seemed unable to take in more modern styles in his compositions. The symphony is significant in this respect, resembling a well- written Schumann symphony. The composer did suffer from mental disorder and ended his life in an asylum, no unusual destiny for so many contemporaries who never know how to obtain recognition in their lifetime.