This work was written at the request of cellist Lennart von Zweygberg in 1926 and played by him in Europe and the USA. It dates from just after the 'Schott Concerto' and is a product of Merikanto's richest creative period. In spite of the title, Merikanto wrote the work to be playable by a chamber ensemble of flute, clarinet, harp and single strings, but divisi violins may be used in place of the original double stoppings (str 2-2-1-1-1).