Originally intended as a string quintet, Carl Nielsen (1865-1931) reworked the piece for a larger ensemble at the suggestion of his teacher. Composed when Nielsen was only 22 in 1988, he had it published as his Op. 1 due to it being his first success, despite having published other works previously. The three-movement suite was premiered by the Tivoli Orchestra in Copenhagen on September 8th, 1888, Balduin Dahl conducting and Nielsen himself in the 2nd violin section. The Little Suite remains one of the most widely performed Nielsen works today.