Edvard Grieg

Edvard Grieg(15 June 1843 4 September 1907) was a nary(prenominal)wegiancomposerandpianist. He is best k at one time for hisPiano Concerto in A minor, forhis incidental musictoHenrik IbsensplayPeer Gynt(which includesMorning MoodandIn the H on the whole of the Mountain King), and for his collection of indulgentminiatures lyrical Pieces. 1 - Biography Edvard Hagerup Grieg was born inBergen,Norwayon June 15, 1843. His p arnts were Hiemlik Grieg (18061875), a merchandiser and the American vice consul in Bergen, and Gesine Carrie Hagerupel (18141875), a music teacher and daughter ofEdvard Hagerup.The family name, originally spelledGreig, hasScottishorigins. After the battle of Cullodenin 1746, however, Griegs ample-grandfather traveled widely, settling in Norway about 1770, and establishing business interests in Bergen. Edvard Grieg was raised in a musical home. His mother was his first gentleteacher and taught him to play at the age of 6. Grieg studied in several schools, including Ta nks School,. 2He often brought in samples of his music to class. In the summer of 1858, Grieg met the eminent Norwegian tinkererOle Bull, who was a family friend Bulls brother was married to Griegs aunt.Bull recognized the 15-year-old boys talent and persuaded his parents to send him to theLeipzig Conservatory, then enjoin byIgnaz Moscheles. Grieg enrolled in the conservatoire, concentrating on the lightly, and enjoyed the many designs and recitals given inLeipzig. He disliked the discipline of the conservatory course of study, but he achieved very good grades in most areas. An exception was theorgan, which was mandatory for piano students. In the spring of 1860, he survived a life-threateninglung disease. The following year he do his launch as a concert pianist, inKarlshamn,Sweden.In 1862, he finished his studies in Leipzig and held his first concert in his home town, where his programme includedBeethovensPathetiquesonata. (Griegs own recording of hisPiano Sonata, made late in his life, confirms that he was an excellent pianist). In 1863, Grieg went toCopenhagen,Denmark, and stayed there for three years. He met the Danish composersJ. P. E. HartmannandNiels Gade. He also met his associate Norwegian composerRikard Nordraak(composer of theNorwegian national anthem), who became a good friend and source of great inspiration. Nordraak died in 1866, and Grieg serene afuneral marchin his honor.On 11 June 1867, Grieg married his first cousin,Nina Hagerup. The next year, their only child, Alexandra, was born. She died in 1869 frommeningitis. In the summer of 1868, Grieg wrote his Piano Concerto in A minor while on holiday in Denmark. Edmund Neupertgave the concerto its premier performance on 3 April 1869 in the Casino Theater in Copenhagen. Grieg himself was unable to be there due to conducting commitments in Christiania (asOslowas then named). 3 In 1868,Franz Liszt, who had not yet met Grieg, wrote a testimonial for him to the Norwegian Ministry of Education, which led to Grieg obtaining a travel grant.The two men met inRomein 1870. On Griegs first visit, they went over Griegs Violin Sonata No. 1, which pleased Liszt greatly. On his second visit, in April, Grieg brought with him the hologram of his Piano Concerto, which Liszt proceeded to sightread (including the orchestral arrangement). Liszts rendition greatly impressed his audience, although Grieg gently pointed out to him that he vie the first movement too quickly. Liszt also gave Grieg some advice onorchestration, (for example, to give the melody of the second makeup in the first movement to a solo trumpet).In 187476, Grieg composedincidental musicfor the premiere ofHenrik Ibsens playPeer Gynt, at the request of the author. Many of the pieces from this work became very popular in the orchestral suites or piano and piano-duet arrangements. Grieg had close ties with the (Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra) (Harmonien), and afterward became music Director of the orchestra from 18801882 . In 1888, Grieg metTchaikovskyinLeipzig. Grieg was afflicted by the sadness in Tchaikovsky. 4Tchaikovsky thought very highly of Griegs music, praising its beauty, originality and warmth. 5 - Latter yearsEdvard Grieg Museum Troldhaugen Griegs later life brought him fame. The Norwegian government awarded him a pension. In the spring 1903, Grieg made nine 78-rpmgramophone recordingsof his piano music in Paris all of these historic discs prevail been reissued on both LPs and CDs and, despite particular(a) fidelity, show his artistry as a pianist. Grieg also made live-recordingplayer pianomusic rolls for theWelte-Mignonreproducing system, all of which survive today and can be heard. In 1906, he met the composer and pianistPercy Graingerin London. Grainger was a great admirer of Griegs music and a strong empathy was quickly established.In a 1907 interview, Grieg stated I nominate written Norwegian Peasant Dances that no one in my country can play, and here comes this Australian who p lays them as they ought to be played He is a genius that we Scandinavians cannot do other than love. 6 Edvard Grieg died in the evenfall of 1907, aged 64, after a long period of illness. His final words were Well, if it must be so. The funeral displace between 30,000 and 40,000 people out on the streets of his home town to honor him. Following his wish, his ownFuneral work on in Memory of Rikard Nordraakwas played in an orchestration by his friendJohan Halvorsen, who had married Griegs niece.In addition, theFuneral certifymovement fromChopinsPiano Sonata No. 2was played. His and his wifes ashes are entombed in a mountain crypt near his house,Troldhaugen. - Music Grieg is renowned as anationalist composer, drawing inspiration fromNorwegian family unit music. Early whole kit and caboodle include asymphony(which he later suppressed) and apiano sonata. He also wrote threesonatas for violin and pianoand acello sonata. His many short pieces for piano often based on Norwegian folk tunes and dances led some to call him the Chopinof the North. 7 ThePiano Concertois his most popular work. Its champions have included the pianist and composerPercy Grainger, a personal friend of Grieg who played the concerto frequently during his long career. An arrangement of part of the work made an iconic television comedy appearance in the 1971Morecambe and Wise Show, conducted byAndre Previn. Some of theLyric Pieces(for piano) are also well-known, as is theincidental musictoHenrik IbsensplayPeer Gynt, a play that Grieg found to be an arduous work to score properly.In a 1874 letter to his friend Frants Beyer, Grieg expressed his unhappiness with what is now considered one of his most popular compositions fromPeer Gynt,In the Hall of the Mountain King I have also written something for the scene in the hall of the mountain King something that I literally cant transport listening to because it absolutely reeks of cow-pies, exaggerated Norwegian nationalism, and trollish self-sa tisfaction But I have a get it on that the irony will be discernible. 8 Griegs popularHolberg retinuewas originally written for the piano, and later arranged by the composer forstringorchestra.Grieg wrote songs, in which he set lyrics by poetsHeinrich Heine,Johann Wolfgang von Goethe,Henrik Ibsen,Hans Christian Andersen,Rudyard Kiplingand others. Russian composerNikolai Myaskovskyused a alkali by Grieg for the variations with which he closed his Third String Quartet. - argument of selected works Main articleList of compositions by Edvard Grieg * Piano Sonata in E minor, Op. 7 * Violin Sonata No. 1 in F major, Op. 8 * ConcertOvertureIn Autumn, Op. 11 * Violin Sonata No. 2 in G major, Op. 13 * Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 6 * accompanying musictoBjornstjerne Bjornsons playSigurd Jorsalfar, Op. 22 * Incidental music to Henrik Ibsens playPeer Gynt, Op. 23 * Ballade in the Form of Variationson a Norwegian menage Songin G minor, Op. 24 * String Quartetin G minor, Op. 27 * record album for Male Chorus, Op. 30 * Two Elegiac Melodies for Strings, Op. 34 * quaternaryNorwegian Dancesfor piano four hands, Op. 35 (later orchestrated) * Cello Sonata in A minor, Op. 36 * Holberg Suitefor piano, later arr. for string orchestra, Op. 40 * Violin Sonata No. 3 in C minor, Op. 45 * Peer GyntSuiteNo. 1, Op. 6 * Lyric Suite for Orchestra, Op. 54 (orchestration of fourLyric Pieces) * Peer GyntSuiteNo. 2, Op. 55 * Suite fromSigurd Jorsalfar, Op. 56 * FourSymphonic Dancesfor piano, later arr. for orchestra, Op. 64 * HaugtussaSong Cycle afterArne Garborg, Op. 67 * Slatter(Peasant Dances) for piano, Op. 72 * Sixty-sixLyric Piecesfor piano in ten books, Opp. 12, 38, 43, 47, 54, 57, 62, 65, 68 and 71, includingArietta,To the Spring,Little Bird,Butterfly,Notturno,Wedding Day at Troldhaugen,At Your Feet, hanker For Home,March of the Dwarfs,Poeme erotiqueandGone.