Grieg - Peer Gynt

Composed by Edvard Grieg
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Herbert von Karajan
Label Deutsche Grammophon
Price £6.99
Released: April 1, 1989
Available in most good music stores

Edvard Grieg was born in Bergen, Norway in 1843. He is the greatest composer Norway has ever produced. At the age of only 15 years, Grieg went to the Leipzig Conservatory to study music. Four years ...
...composer.

Grieg is a nationalist and succeeded in bringing these together elements of Norwegian folk music and his own personal conceptions of Norwegian nature and the Norwegian character. (Although Great Britain can lay some claim to Grieg’s descendancy – his great grandfather was a Scot).

Henrik Ibsen, a playwright and fellow Norwegian asked him to write the incidental music to "Peer Gynt." Grieg responded ... more

Composed by Edvard Grieg
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Herbert von Karajan
Label Deutsche Grammophon
Price £6.99
Released: April 1, 1989
Available in most good music stores

Edvard Grieg was born in Bergen, Norway in 1843. He is the greatest composer Norway has ever produced. At the age of only 15 years, Grieg went to the Leipzig Conservatory to study music. Four years later he left the Conservatory as a full-fledged musician and composer.

Grieg is a nationalist and succeeded in bringing these together elements of Norwegian folk music and his own personal conceptions of Norwegian nature and the Norwegian character. (Although Great Britain can lay some claim to Grieg’s descendancy – his great grandfather was a Scot).

Henrik Ibsen, a playwright and fellow Norwegian asked him to write the incidental music to "Peer Gynt." Grieg responded to the moods and scenes of the drama with a string of characterful and memorable tone-pictures. The incidental music to Peer Gynt was written in 1875, and first performed, with the play, in February 1876. It comprised some 23 movements, written for a small theatre orchestra and chorus. Grieg extracted 8 of these in 1888 and 1891 after it had become evident that the play in its original form would not be frequently revived and re-orchestrated them for full orchestra in two Suites, In Grieg's own lifetime the "Peer Gynt" music scored a resounding international success.

It is comprised of two orchestral suites. (Not many people know that)

Peer Gynt - Suite No.1, Op. 46
1. Morning Mood
2. The Death of Åse
3. Anitra’s Dance
4. In the Hall of the Mountain King

Morning Mood - Robbed and deserted by this seductress Anitra, Peer wakes in the Arabian Desert. The music begins softly and slowly. Wind instruments play birdcalls and the strings represent a glorious sunrise. Peer wakes and the music develops.

The Death of Åse - A tender lament played by the string section of the orchestra accompanies the death of Peer Gynt’s aged mother.

Anitra’s Dance - Grieg captures the seductive Anitra in an oriental dance. A swirling melody played on the strings dances around a plucked cello as a triangle beat marks the time

In the Hall of the Mountain King - Peer witnesses a dance of the trolls in a mountain cavern. Both Ibsen and Grieg were tongue-in-cheek about Norwegian folklore; the dance begins with tentative steps played pizzicato. The dancers become more confident and the music builds on a grotesque ostinato scored to sound intentionally ridiculous and bizarre. Brass instruments interject, cymbals crash and drum rolls sound as the music grows in dynamics and tempo.

Peer Gynt - Suite No.2, Op. 55
1. The Abduction of the Bride
2. Arabian Dance
3 Peer Gynt's Homecoming
4 Solveig’s Song

The Abduction of the Bride - Sharp Shrill strings and crashing cymbals dramatically open the movement representing the abduction followed by a slow lamenting string section. Solo violins rise and are joined by the rest of the orchestra as the community join in the lament.

Arabian Dance - A sinuous sensuous dance predominated by woodwinds, triangle and tambourines.

Peer Gynt's Homecoming - A vivid tone painting as Peer faces many dangers. His trepidation is portrayed by the strings as the woodwind gushes and whirls. A kettledrum beats as Peer boldly marches onwards. Moments of calm thoughtful periods emerge.

Solveig’s Song - Lyrical song with a memorable melody. A Harp plays accompanied by smooth legato strings producing a soulful melody juxtaposed by joyous dance like sections.

Holberg Suite, Op. 46
1. Prelude
2. Sarabande
3. Gavotte / Musette
4. Air
5 Rigaudon

Ludvig Holberg was a violin virtuoso born in Bergen who toured in the United States to great success in the eighteen century. To honour Holberg on the 200th anniversary of his birth, Bergen asked Grieg to compose a musical tribute.

Grieg accepted and in March1885, he conducted the premiere in Bergen. The suite was written for piano in a French style consisting of a Prelude, Sarabande, Gavotte/Musette, Air, and Rigaudon.

Prlude - Exhilarating pulsing sounds set an upbeat mood.
Sarabande - A long lyrical dance.
Gavotte - introduces the formality of court ballrooms while the internal Musette brings a folk-song quality in contrast.
Air - places more emphasis on the deeper strings.
Rigaudon - the Norwegian peasant fiddler emerges as a tribute to the folk violinists of Grieg’s beloved country.
 

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