"Holberg" (Holberg) refers to a prominent Norwegian writer known as the "Father of Norwegian Literature." Grieg composed this work when he was around 40 years old, having been commissioned to create music for Holberg's 200th birth anniversary. The work is in dance suite form because Grieg adopted the musical style prevalent during Holberg's lifetime. It possesses the elegant atmosphere of that era, while also being rich in Grieg's characteristic vibrant exuberance.

Although originally composed for piano, it is more frequently performed in the string orchestra arrangement that Grieg himself created the following year. While highly enjoyable in its dynamic and richly layered string orchestra version, listening to it as a piano solo allows the melody to stand out and enables one to perceive the lively individual notes more distinctly.