Classical Music / Composer Datebook: June 15
Norway's Greatest Composer
Edvard Grieg (June 15, 1843 - September 4, 1907), Norway's greatest composer, is best known for his incidental music Peer Gynt Suite adapted for the Ibsen play Peer Gynt. He is widely considered one of the leading Romantic era composers, and his music a part of the standard classical repertoire. His use and development of Norwegian folk music in his own compositions brought the music of Norway to international consciousness, as well as helping to develop a national identity, much as Jean Sibelius did in Finland and Bedřich Smetana did in Czechoslovakia.
His major works include Concerto in A Minor, Holberg Suite, and Lyric Pieces of piano. He played a part in the formation of the Norwegian Academy of Music.
A son of a merchant, Grieg was of Scottish descent. He is the most celebrated person from his city of birth, Bergen, with numerous statues depicting his image, and many cultural entities named after him: the city's largest concert building (Grieg Hall), its most advanced music school (Grieg Academy) and its professional choir (Edvard Grieg Kor). The Edvard Grieg Museum at Grieg's former home, Troldhaugen, is dedicated to his legacy.
Grieg studied in Leipzig. In 1863 he went to live in Copenhagen and studied with Niels Vilhelm Gade. The following year he met Rikard Nordaak, who inspired him for Norwegian national music. He then settled as a teacher and conductor at Christiania.
In 1869, at Copenhagen, he premiered the Piano Concerto in A minor, his masterpiece and most enduring work. However, his reputation as the leading Scandinavian composer of his day was the premiere of Henrik Ibsen's Peer Gynt. This popular piece (to this day) represents his talent as a composer at his best. Peer Gynt, Op. 23, is the incidental music to Ibsen's 1867 play of the same name, written by Grieg in 1875. It premiered along with the play on 24 February 1876 in Christiania (now Oslo). He produced music of great strength and individuality by developing a style that was characterised partly Norwegian folk song and more, by his own experiments in harmonics.
Grieg later created two suites from his Peer Gynt music. Some of the music from these suites has received coverage in popular culture; see Grieg's music in popular culture.
Edvard Grieg's works also include: three sonatas for violin and piano, Lyric Pieces for piano (ten volumes), and numerous songs.
Other Links:
Edvard Grieg Peer Gynt. YouTube, uploaded by Алексей Ермаков. Teatro Municipal de Santiago Choreography- Ben Stevenson Ballet and the orchestra of Teatro Municipal de Santiago. Choreography- Marcia Haydée. Conductor - Konstantin Chudovsky. Accessed June 15, 2016.
Edvard Grieg: Anitra's Dance from Peer Gynt Suite • Volker Hartung, conductor. Youtube, uploaded by maestrohartung. Accessed February 24, 2022.
Edvard Grieg Peer Gynt Suite No. 1. YouTube, uploaded by Juancitoamericano. Accessed February 24, 2017.
Grieg: Peer Gynt "In the Hall of the Mountain King" / Elisey Mysin 6 years. YouTube, uploaded by Elisey Mysin. Performance: The closing ceremony of the Astana Piano Passion International Piano Competition in 2017.
Grieg: Peer Gynt "In the Hall of the Mountain King"
Soloist: Elisey Mysin, 6 years old. Accessed February 24, 2022.
Resources:
Edvard Grieg. Grove Dictionary of Music. Macmillan Publishers, 1994.
Edvard Grieg. Oxford Dictionary of Music. OUP. 1994.
Edvard Grieg. Grove Dictionary of Music. Macmillan Publishers, 1994.
Edvard Grieg. Oxford Dictionary of Music. OUP. 1994.
Edvard Grieg. Wikipedia. Accessed June 15, 2016.
Peer Gynt (Grieg). Wikipedia. Accessed June 15, 2016.
(c) June 2010. Updated June 15, 2016. Tel. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.
(c) June 2010. Updated June 15, 2016. Tel. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment