Agathe Backer Grøndahl is primarily known as an accomplished Norwegian pianist, but her brilliant compositions have received little attention to date. The Fantasy Pieces Op. 36 is a deeply personal collection rich in poetry and imagination. At the same time, they reveal pedagogical intentions, as they were dedicated to the musical development of her son Fridtjof Backer-Grøndahl, who would later become one of Norway’s leading pianists.

The collection spans a wide expressive range: from simple,...