Edvard Grieg

Romanticism

He is considered the founder of a distinctly Norwegian art music.

💡 Did you know? Grieg is regarded as Norway's greatest composer and the founder of a distinct Norwegian music.

Norway

Born and died in the harbour town of Bergen.

💡 Did you know? Grieg was small in stature (about 1.52 m) and always carried a little frog figure as a lucky charm.

Peer Gynt

It includes 'Morning Mood', 'Solveig's Song' and 'In the Hall of the Mountain King'.

💡 Did you know? Ibsen personally asked Grieg for the incidental music to „Peer Gynt“: Grieg at first found the work agonising, yet it became his greatest success.

In the Hall of the Mountain King

It depicts Peer Gynt's flight from the trolls: from creeping menace to wild chase.

💡 Did you know? „In the Hall of the Mountain King“ (an eerily swelling march of trolls) is among the most quoted pieces in film music.

A minor

Written at 24; its timpani-roll opening is one of the most famous beginnings in music.

💡 Did you know? Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor is one of the most beloved ever: his only completed concerto.

Franz Liszt

Their meeting in Rome in 1870 encouraged the young Norwegian: 'Keep on, you have what it takes!'

💡 Did you know? When the young Grieg showed Liszt his piano concerto, Liszt enthusiastically sight-read it and called out: „Keep it up, you have what it takes!“

Lyric Pieces

66 miniatures in ten books, including 'Wedding Day at Troldhaugen'.

💡 Did you know? Grieg's 66 „Lyric Pieces“ are little piano diaries: still popular with students and concert pianists alike.

Troldhaugen

Today a museum; his ashes rest in a rock grotto by the fjord.

💡 Did you know? Many of his works were composed in his little cabin by the fjord at Troldhaugen: today a museum.

Ole Bull

He persuaded the parents to send Edvard to the Leipzig Conservatory.

💡 Did you know? The famous violinist Ole Bull discovered the 15-year-old Grieg and persuaded his parents to send him to the Leipzig Conservatory.

singer

Nina Hagerup was also his cousin: she performed his songs across Europe.

💡 Did you know? He wrote the famous song 'I Love You' for their engagement.

Bergen

Born 1843, died 1907: tens of thousands of his countrymen paid their last respects.

💡 Did you know? Grieg was born and died in his home city of Bergen: at his funeral his own funeral music was played.

Edvard Grieg

Edvard Grieg was a Norwegian Romantic composer who made his homeland's music world-famous with „Peer Gynt“ and his piano concerto.

💡 Did you know? The composer, only about 1.52 m tall, always carried a little frog figure as a lucky charm.

In the Hall of the Mountain King

From Grieg's Peer Gynt music: a quiet, lurking theme that builds into a frenzied, eerie dance.

💡 Did you know? Grieg himself mockingly called it something that ‘reeks of cow-pats and Norwegian chauvinism.’

Morning Mood

The famous flute melody over gentle strings: the very image of a sunrise, though Grieg had a desert scene in mind.

💡 Did you know? The piece opens the fourth act: set not in Norway but in North Africa.