Grieg's harmonic language was deeply influenced by Norwegian folk music, which he described as a 'mystery' with 'unrealized harmonic possibilities'.
Compositional Technique
Grieg's later piano works, such as 19 Norske folkeviser Op.66 and 17 Slatter Op.72, show innovative use of advanced chromaticism, modality, and free dissonance.
Album & Artwork
This album aims to provide a complete recording of Edvard Grieg's piano music on the BIS label.
Composer Biography
Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) is considered the foremost composer of keyboard music in the Nordic countries.
Composition History
Grieg began composing piano pieces in the German Romantic style while studying at the Leipzig Conservatory (1858-1861).
Compositional Technique
For his Lyric Pieces, Grieg did not directly borrow melodies from folk music, but rather assimilated and stylized his own melodic material with a high degree of intuition.
Cultural Impact
Grieg's piano music, especially his smaller works like the Lyric Pieces, gained vast popularity among amateur pianists worldwide and served as high-quality instructional music.
