Better Know a Composer - Grieg

Edvard Grieg (June 15, 1843 - Sept. 4, 1907)

  After finishing so much Russian history with The Five I thought we should jump over to Norway's Romantic era and take a look at one of their finest composers. Grieg's music has always had something about it that simply grabs my attention. Whether it's his beautiful melodies, or how all the different parts line up; it all works with me. I've been curious about Grieg's background every since I picked up his CD by mistake at the library, and I have to say... One of my best mistakes yet!

  Grieg was born in Bergen, Norway into a musical family. His father was a merchant and a American vice consul in Bergen, but his mother was a music teacher. She was his first piano teacher, starting him at the age of six. Grieg then continued his studies in many different schools until Ole Bull, a Norwegian violinist who was a family friend, saw the musical talent in the 15 year old Grieg. Bull persuaded his parents to send him to the Leipzig Conservatory to cultivate this talent.

  While at Leipzig Grieg concentrated on the piano. It is said that while he took to the concerts and recital, he wasn't fond of the strict discipline of a conservatory. That being said he managed to get good grades in almost all his classes. The one exception was organ, which was required for all piano students, and he never did seem to come back to it later in life.

  In 1860 he was fortunate enough to survive a fatal lung disease. The following year he had his debut concert at a concert pianist in Sweden. A year after, in 1862, he finished his classes at Leipzig and held his first concert in his hometown where he performed Beethoven's Pathétique sonata.
  Grieg traveled to Denmark in 1863 and remained there for three years. In this time he met three new composers: J.P.E. Hartmann, Niels Gade, and Rikard Nordraak. The first two were Danish composers and the last was a fellow Norwegian who is also the man who wrote Norway's national anthem. His time with these composers gave him new inspiration and some great friends. Sadly, in 1866 Nordraak pasted away and Grieg was so moved he wrote the Funeral March for Rikard Nordraak in his memory.


  Even though he had shown skills with writing for orchestra his expertise on the piano drove him to writing a piano concerto. In the summer of 1868, while on holiday break, he finished writing one of his most famous works, the Piano Concerto in A minor. It was premiered by Edmund Neupert on April 3, 1869. Unfortunately, Grieg was not able to attend this performance as he had another conducting job come up at the same time.
  In 1868 Grieg was contacted for the first time by Liszt and received a travel grant to visit him. They met in Rome, in 1870, and this first time they went over Grieg's Violin Sonata No. 1. Liszt was very impressed by it and then even had another meeting where Grieg brought his piano concerto. After Liszt got through sight-reading his piece, with the orchestral reduction at the same time as well, everyone there not was not only in awe of Liszt's skills on the piano, but also of Grieg's writing as well. Liszt then proceeded to give to Grieg some advice on orchestrating. For example, that is why the second theme in the first movement is now a solo trumpet.


  As time would go on Grieg would keep meeting other great composers. In 1888, he met Tchaikovsky while there were both in Leipzig. Grieg remarked he was surprised by the sadness in Tchaikovsky. Nevertheless, Tchaikovsky was fond of Grieg's writing; commenting on its beauty, originality, and warmth.
  Much later, in 1906, while in London Grieg met the Australian composer and pianist, Percy Grainger. Grainger was another composer that was fond of Grieg's writing and a friendship quickly formed between the two. A year later, during an interview, Grieg said that, "I have written Norwegian Peasant Dances that no one in my country can play, and here comes this Australian who plays them as they ought to be played! He is a genius that we Scandinavians cannot do other than love."


  If we jump back in time a little bit, back to 1903, we can see that that this is when Grieg's musical career really started to progress. That year he recorded nine of his piano works in Paris with a pension that was awarded to him by the Norwegian government. Even though these are old recording, if you get a chance to hear any of them they show how truly extraordinary Grieg was, not just as a composer, but also as a pianist.

  Grieg passed away in the fall of 1907, at the age of 64, due to severe illness. His final words before death were, "Well, if it must be so." Not many musicians are fully recognized when they die, but luckily for Grieg this wasn't the case. His funeral drew about 30,000-40,000 people onto the street outside his house to honor him. By his wishes, the Funeral March for Rikard Nordraak was performed at his service. He and his wife's ashes are now seal in a cave near his house. (As shown to the left)




  Finally, some of you that know Grieg's works are probably surprised that I haven't mentioned Peer Gynt yet. Don't worry, I wouldn't forget these. The Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 is probably my favorite work by him -especially the first movement "Morning Mood." The origin of the Peer Gynt Suites No. 1 and 2 come from incidental music, which is basically background music, which Grieg wrote at Henrik Ibsen's request, to be used in Ibsen's play Peer Gynt. If you come to my blog, below is a great recording of "Morning Mood" from Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 performed by the Berliner Philharmoniker below, enjoy.