Edvard Grieg

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Born 15 June 1843
Bergen, Sweden-Norway
Died 4 September 1907 (aged 64)
Bergen, Norway
Occupations
  • Composer
  • pianist
Works List of compositions
Spouse
Nina Grieg
​

(m. 1867)

Edvard Hagerup Grieg (/ɡriːɡ/ GREEG, Norwegian: [ˈɛ̀dvɑʈ ˈhɑ̀ːɡərʉp ˈɡrɪɡː]; 15 June 1843 – 4 September 1907) was a Norwegian composer and pianist. He is widely considered one of the leading Romantic era composers, and his music is part of the standard classical repertoire worldwide. His use of Norwegian folk music in his own compositions brought the music of Norway to fame, as well as helping to develop a national identity, much as Jean Sibelius did in Finland and Bedřich Smetana in Bohemia.

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A large part of Edvard Grieg’s output consists of short pieces for piano; colorful, lyrical, often evoking beautiful scenes of nature. His style can seem straightforward, modest and firmly traditional, but his love and deep knowledge of the Norwegian folk tradition enabled him to enrich the Romantic style with plenty of harmonic inventions, making him an admired and influential figure not least among French composers of the 20th century.

Top Pieces:

Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 16

The brilliance and virtuosity of this Concerto can seem far removed from Grieg’s more subtle, lyrical creations for solo piano; but there is common ground, such as the distinct elements of Norwegian folk music.
Piano Concerto Op. 16 in A Minor by Grieg piano sheet music

To the Spring, Op. 43 No. 6

Grieg and his Scandinavian collegues – with their abundant experience of long and bleak winters – often evoked the magical emergence of spring. Here’s one of the most beautiful examples.
To the Spring Op. 43 No. 6 in F-sharp Major by Grieg piano sheet music

Nocturne, Op. 54 No. 4

This soothing, ethereal night piece combines Grieg’s signature folksong flavoring with an impressionistic mood, suspending time and evoking the Nightingale’s call.
Nocturne Op. 54 No. 4 in C Major by Grieg piano sheet music

Wedding-Day at Troldhaugen, Op. 65 No. 6

A vigourous and joyful piece with a strong folkloric character, delivered as a present to Grieg’s wife on their 25th wedding anniversary.
Wedding-Day at Troldhaugen Op. 65 No. 6 in D Major by Grieg piano sheet music

Ballade in the Form of Variations on a Norwegian Folk Song, Op. 24

Grieg’s most significant large-scale solo piano work had a very special emotional meaning for the composer, who said that it was written “with my life’s blood in days of sorrow and despair.”
Ballade in the Form of Variations on a Norwegian Folk Song Op. 24 in G Minor by Grieg piano sheet music

Biography

Edward Grieg (1843-1907) wanted to create, in his own words, music that would “give the Norwegian people an identity.” In the summer of 1858, the legendary violinist Ole Bull noticed the fifteen year old Grieg´s talent and persuaded his parents to send him to the Leipzig Conservatory, where he was to study piano with Ignaz Moscheles. Despite disliking the conservatory discipline and being diagnosed with a severe lung disease, Grieg managed to graduate with good grades in 1862. He held his first concert in his hometown of Bergen but settled in Copenhagen, where he continued his composition studies with Niels Gade and met the composer of the Norwegian national anthem Rikard Nordraak, who became a source of great inspiration.

Against his family´s wishes, Grieg married his cousin Nina Hagerup, a talented pianist and singer. Shortly after their wedding, the couple moved to Oslo, where Grieg supported them by teaching piano and conducting. The following summer, Grieg wrote his Piano Concerto in A minor, a work that was received with great enthusiasm and would secure the composer´s reputation. In 1870, Grieg paid two visits to Liszt in Rome, during which the two composers went over Grieg´s first violin sonata, which pleased Liszt greatly, and the Piano Concerto, which Liszt proceeded to play by sight (including the orchestral arrangement). Though greatly impressed, Grieg gently pointed out to the older master that he played the first movement too quickly.

Supplying incidental music to the premiere of Henrik Ibsen´s Peer Gynt in 1876 proved to be the next major step in Grieg’s career. This music became immensely popular and Grieg later scored it into two orchestral suites. He now enjoyed tremendous celebrity and continued travelling extensively, adhering to a surprisingly busy schedule considering his fragile health. In 1885, Grieg returned to his native Bergen, Norway, where he and Nina built their celebrated home, Troldhaugen, a popular tourist destination to this day. Many of Grieg’s best-known works for piano are contained in the ten sets of Lyric Pieces, miniature character-pieces that span the whole of Grieg’s development as a composer for the piano. Grieg died aged 64, after a long period of illness. The funeral drew between 30,000 and 40,000 people out on the streets of his home town to honour him.

Quotes by Grieg

“Artists like Bach and Beethoven erected churches and temples on the heights. I only wanted […] to build dwellings for men in which they might feel happy and at home.”

Quotes about Grieg

“You can’t imagine the power Grieg’s music had in Paris. Suddenly, our windows were open to the country and we were reminded we lived in flats, with closed doors and windows, ignoring what are rivers, trees, and birds… then came a musician who had knowledge of all that and used it in his music. It did us a lot of good and everyone was grateful to him. Through him we could perceive the mountains and the sea, gnomes and giants, a world that the city had made us forget.” (Ravel)

Title Key Year Level

Most popular pieces:
Piano Concerto Op. 16 A Minor 1868 8+
To the Spring Op. 43 No. 6 F-sharp Major 1886 7
Nocturne Op. 54 No. 4 C Major 1891 5
Wedding-Day at Troldhaugen Op. 65 No. 6 D Major 1897 7
Ballade in the Form of Variations on a Norwegian Folk Song Op. 24 G Minor 1875 8+

All pieces:

Lyric Pieces
Arietta Op. 12 No. 1 E Major 1867 5
Waltz Op. 12 No. 2 A Minor 1867 4
Watchman’s Song Op. 12 No. 3 E Major 1867 4
Fairy Dance Op. 12 No. 4 E Minor 1867 6
Popular Melody Op. 12 No. 5 F-sharp Minor 1867 5
Norwegian Melody Op. 12 No. 6 D Major 1867 6
Album Leaf Op. 12 No. 7 E Minor 1867 5
National Song Op. 12 No. 8 E-flat Major 1867 4
Berceuse Op. 38 No. 1 G Major 1883 5
Popular Melody Op. 38 No. 2 E Minor 1883 5
Melodie Op. 38 No. 3 C Major 1883 5
Halling Op. 38 No. 4 G Minor 1883 6
Springdans Op. 38 No. 5 G Major 1883 6
Elegie Op. 38 No. 6 A Minor 1883 5
Waltz Op. 38 No. 7 E Minor 1883 5
Kanon Op. 38 No. 8 B-flat Minor 1883 6
Butterfly Op. 43 No. 1 A Major 1886 7
Solitary Traveller Op. 43 No. 2 B Minor 1886 6
In my Native Country Op. 43 No. 3 F-sharp Major 1886 5
Little Bird Op. 43 No. 4 D Minor 1886 6
Erotikon Op. 43 No. 5 F Major 1886 7
To the Spring Op. 43 No. 6 F-sharp Major 1886 7
Valse – Impromptu Op. 47 No. 1 E Minor 1888 6
Album Leaf Op. 47 No. 2 F Major 1888 6
Melodie Op. 47 No. 3 A Minor 1888 5
Halling Op. 47 No. 4 D Major 1888 5
Melancholie Op. 47 No. 5 G Minor 1888 5
Springdans Op. 47 No. 6 G Major 1888 6
Elegie Op. 47 No. 7 B Minor 1888 5
Shepherd’s Boy Op. 54 No. 1 G Minor 1891 6
Norwegian March Op. 54 No. 2 C Major 1891 5
March of the Dwarfs Op. 54 No. 3 D Minor 1891 8+
Nocturne Op. 54 No. 4 C Major 1891 5
Scherzo Op. 54 No. 5 E Minor 1891 5
Bell Ringing Op. 54 No. 6 C Major 1891 5
Vanished Days Op. 57 No. 1 D Minor 1893 5
Gade Op. 57 No. 2 A Major 1893 5
Illusion Op. 57 No. 3 A Minor 1893 5
Secret Op. 57 No. 4 G Major 1893 5
She Dances Op. 57 No. 5 C Major 1893 5
Homesickness Op. 57 No. 6 E Minor 1893 5
Sylphe Op. 62 No. 1 B Minor 1895 5
Tak Op. 62 No. 2 G Major 1895 4
French Serenade Op. 62 No. 3 A Major 1895 5
Brooklet Op. 62 No. 4 B Minor 1895 6
Phantom Op. 62 No. 5 A Major 1895 5
Homeward Op. 62 No. 6 E Major 1895 5
From Early Years Op. 65 No. 1 D Minor 1897 5
Peasant’s Song Op. 65 No. 2 A Major 1897 5
Melancholy Op. 65 No. 3 B Minor 1897 6
Salon Op. 65 No. 4 A Major 1897 6
Ballade Op. 65 No. 5 C Minor 1897 5
Wedding-Day at Troldhaugen Op. 65 No. 6 D Major 1897 7
Sailor’s Song Op. 68 No. 1 C Major 1899 5
Grandmother’s Minuet Op. 68 No. 2 G Major 1899 4
At Your Feet Op. 68 No. 3 D Major 1899 5
Evening in the Mountains Op. 68 No. 4 E Minor 1899 5
At the Cradle Op. 68 No. 5 E Major 1899 5
Valse Mélancolique Op. 68 No. 6 G Minor 1899 5
Once Upon a Time Op. 71 No. 1 E Minor 1901 6
Summer’s Eve Op. 71 No. 2 B-flat Minor 1901 6
Puck Op. 71 No. 3 E-flat Minor 1901 5
Peace of the Woods Op. 71 No. 4 F-sharp Major 1901 6
Halling Op. 71 No. 5 C Major 1901 6
Gone Op. 71 No. 6 E Minor 1901 5
Remembrances Op. 71 No. 7 E-flat Major 1901 5

Four Pieces Op. 1
1. Piano Piece D Major 1861 8
2. Piano Piece C Major 1861 8+
3. Piano Piece – mazurka A Minor 1861 7
4. Piano Piece A Minor 1861 8

Poetic Tone-Pictures Op. 3
1. Poetic Tone-Picture E Minor 1863 8
2. Poetic Tone-Picture B-flat Major 1863 7
3. Poetic Tone-Picture C Minor 1863 7
4. Poetic Tone-Picture A Major 1863 5
5. Poetic Tone-Picture F Major 1863 5
6. Poetic Tone-Picture E Minor 1863 7

Humoresques Op. 6
1. Humoresque D Major 1865 6
2. Humoresque G-sharp Minor 1865 6
3. Humoresque C Major 1865 6
4. Humoresque G Minor 1865 6

25 Norwegian Folk Songs and Dances Op. 17
1. Folk Dance C Major 1869 5
2. The Young Man D Minor 1869 4
3. Folk Dance A Minor 1869 4
4. Niels Tallefjorden A Major 1869 4
5. Dance from Jolster D Minor 1869 7
6. Wedding Song A Minor 1869 5
7. Halling A Major 1869 5
8. The Pig G Minor 1869 4
9. Religious Song G Major 1869 4
10. Wooer’s Song A Minor 1869 4
11. Heroic Ballad B-flat Major 1869 5
12. Solfager and the Snake King G Minor 1869 5
13. Travel Song G Major 1869 5
14. I Sing with a Sorrowful Heart C Minor 1869 4
15. Last Saturday Evening A Minor 1869 4
16. I Know a Little Maiden F Minor 1869 5
17. The Horsefly and the Fly A Minor 1869 4
18. Peasant Dance C Major 1869 6
19. Holje Dale A Minor 1869 4
20. Halling D Major 1869 4
21. The Woman from Setesdhal A Minor 1869 5
22. Cow Call G Major 1869 4
23. Have You by Chance Seen My Wife? A Minor 1869 4
24. Wedding Song A Major 1869 5
25. The Raven’s Wedding in Krakalund G Minor 1869 5

Scenes of Country Life Op. 19
1. In the Mountains A Minor 1871 8+
2. Bridal Procession E Major 1871 7
3. Carnival Scene A Minor 1871 8+

Album Leafs Op. 28
1. Allegro con moto A-flat Major 1864 6
2. Allegretto espressivo F Major 1874 6
3. Vivace A Major 1876 6
4. Andantino serioso C-sharp Minor 1878 6

Improvisations on Two Norwegian Folk Songs Op. 29
1. Improvisation on a Norwegian Folk Song A Minor 1878 8+
2. Improvisation on a Norwegian Folk Song F Major 1878 8

Four Norwegian Dances Op. 35
1. Norwegian Dance D Minor 1881 8+
2. Norwegian Dance A Major 1881 8
3. Norwegian Dance G Major 1881 7
4. Norwegian Dance D Minor 1881 8

2 Valse-Caprices Op. 37
1. Valse-Caprice C-sharp Minor 1887 7
2. Valse-Caprice E Minor 1887 7

From Holberg’s Time Op. 40
1. Prelude G Major 1884 7
2. Sarabande G Major 1884 5
3. Gavotte G Major 1884 6
4. Air G Minor 1884 5
5. Rigaudon G Major 1884 6

2 Nordic Songs Op. 63
1. Folk Song D Minor 1895 8
2. Cow Keeper’s Tune and Country Dance G Major 1895 8

19 Norwegian Folk Tunes Op. 66
1. Cattle Call D Major 1896 4
2. It Is the Greatest Folly G Minor 1896 5
3. A King Ruled in the East D Minor 1896 5
4. The Song of Siri Dale G Minor 1896 5
5. It Happened in my Youth C Minor 1896 6
6. Call and Cradle Song A Minor 1896 5
7. Cradle Song D Minor 1896 3
8. Call D Minor 1896 4
9. It Was a Little Lad A Minor 1896 4
10. Tomorrow You Shall Marry A Major 1896 6
11. There Stand Two Girls D Minor 1896 6
12. Ranveig A Minor 1896 4
13. A Little Grey Man G Minor 1896 5
14. In Ola Valley, In Ola Lake A Major 1896 6
15. Cradle Song G Minor 1896 6
16. Our Little Astrid A Major 1896 8
17. Cradle Song G Minor 1896 6
18. I Wander Deep in Thought D Major 1896 8
19. Gjendine’s Cradle Song G Minor 1896 3

Slåtter Op. 72
1. Giboen’s Bridal March D Major 1903 8+
2. John Vestafe’s Springdans D Major 1903 8+
3. Bridal March from Telemark D Major 1903 8
4. Halling from the Fairy Hill D Major 1903 8
5. The Prillar from Os Parish D Major 1903 8
6. The Miller’s Gangar D Major 1903 8+
7. Roetnams-Knut – Halling D Major 1903 8+
8. The Miller’s Wedding March A Major 1903 8+
9. Nils Rekve’s Halling D Major 1903 8
10. Knut Luraasen’s Halling I G Major 1903 8+
11. Knut Luraasen’s Halling II D Major 1903 8+
12. The Miller’s Springdans D Major 1903 8
13. Haavard Giboen’s Dream at the Oterholt Bridge. Springdans D Major 1903 8
14. The Goblins’ Bridal Procession at Vossevangen G Major 1903 8
15. The Skuldal Bride D Major 1903 8
16. The Girls from Kivledal – Springdans F Major 1903 8
17. The Girls from Kivledal – Gangar F Major 1903 8

Moods Op. 73
1. Resignation E Minor 1905 5
2. Scherzo-Impromptu B-flat Major 1905 5
3. Night Ride D Minor 1905 5
4. Folksong A-flat Major 1905 5
5. Study (Hommage à Chopin) F Minor 1905 7
6. Students’ Serenade A Major 1905 5
7. The Mountaineer’s Song G Minor 1905 5

Peer Gynt Suites
Morning Mood Op. 46 No. 1 E Major 1888 6
Åse’s Death Op. 46 No. 2 B Minor 1888 5
Anitra’s Dance Op. 46 No. 3 A Minor 1888 5
In the hall of the Mountain King Op. 46 No. 4 B Minor 1888 6
Ingrid’s Lament Op. 55 No. 1 G Minor 1892 7
Arabian Dance Op. 55 No. 2 C Major 1892 7
Peer Gynt’s Return Home Op. 55 No. 3 F-sharp Minor 1892 7
Solveig’s Song Op. 55 No. 4 A Minor 1892 6

Piano Transcriptions of Songs
Heart’s Wounds Op. 34 No. 1 C Minor 1881 5
Last Spring Op. 34 No. 2 G Major 1881 5
Lullaby Op. 41 No. 1 B Major 1884 6
Little Haakon Op. 41 No. 2 A-flat Major 1884 6
I Love Thee Op. 41 No. 3 C Major 1884 7
She Is So White Op. 41 No. 4 E Minor 1884 6
The Princess Op. 41 No. 5 D Minor 1884 8
To Springtime Op. 41 No. 6 B Major 1884 6
A Mother’s Grief Op. 52 No. 1 B-flat Minor 1890 7
The First Meeting Op. 52 No. 2 D-flat Major 1890 6
The Poet’s Heart Op. 52 No. 3 F-sharp Minor 1890 7
Solvejg’s Song Op. 52 No. 4 A Minor 1890 6
Love Op. 52 No. 5 D-flat Major 1890 6
The Old Mother Op. 52 No. 6 B Minor 1890 7
Norwegian Op. 53 No. 1 G Major 1891 7
The First Meeting Op. 53 No. 2 C Major 1891 6

6 Norwegian Mountain Melodies
Springdans EG 108 No. 1 A Major 1875 5
Lullaby EG 108 No. 2 F Major 1875 4
Springdans EG 108 No. 3 D Major 1875 4
Sjugurd and the Troll-Bride EG 108 No. 4 F Major 1875 4
Halling EG 108 No. 5 A Major 1875 4
The Lad and the Lass in the Cow-Shed Loft EG 108 No. 6 A Minor 1875 4

3 Piano Pieces
In the Whirl of the Dance EG 112 E Major 1898 8
Procession of Gnomes EG 111 E Minor 1898 7
Tempest Clouds EG 110 G Minor 1898 8

Works for four hands or two pianos
In Autumn – for four hands Op. 11 D Major 1866 7
Symphonic Piece – for four hands Op. 14 No. 1 A-flat Major 1864 5
Symphonic Piece – for four hands Op. 14 No. 2 C Minor 1864 5
Norwegian Dances – for four hands Op. 35 N/A 1880 8+
Old Norwegian Melody with Variations – for two pianos Op. 51 F Major 1890 8+
Folk Song – for four hands Op. 63 No. 1 D Minor 1895 6
Cow Keeper’s Tune and Country Dance – for four hands Op. 63 No. 2 G Major 1895 6
Valse-Caprice 1 – for four hands Op. 37 No. 1 C-sharp Minor 1883 5
Valse-Caprice 2 – for four hands Op. 37 No. 2 E Minor 1883 5
Sonata K 283 by Mozart – arrangement for two pianos G Major 1877 7
Fantasy K 475 by Mozart – arrangement for two pianos C Minor 1877 8+
Sonata K 457 by Mozart – arrangement for two pianos C Minor 1877 8+
Sonata K 533 by Mozart – arrangement for two pianos F Major 1877 8+
Sonata K 545 by Mozart – arrangement for two pianos C Major 1877 6

Miscellaneous pieces
Sonata Op. 7 E Minor 1865 8+
Piano Concerto Op. 16 A Minor 1868 8+
Ballade in the Form of Variations on a Norwegian Folk Song Op. 24 G Minor 1875 8+
Prayer and Temple Dance – from the Opera “Olav Trygvason” Op. 50 G Major 1893 8+
Nordraak’s Funeral March A Minor 1866 6

Source by: pianosintheparks.com

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