Grieg: From Holbergs Time, Op. 40, Lyric Pieces & Works for Piano
8/30/2013, 51 Tracks, 2:38:08
Featuring
Håkon Austbø
Edvard Grieg
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Composer Biography
Grieg's first published compositions, Four Pieces for Piano Op. 1, were dedicated to his revered teacher Ernst Ferdinand Wenzel at the Leipzig Conservatory.
Compositional Technique
Grieg's Lyric Pieces, composed over almost four decades, show his development from adopting Romantic piano conventions to an increasingly individual style, even using early Impressionistic elements.
Composition History
The Holberg Suite, initially for piano solo, was commissioned by Grieg's native city of Bergen to celebrate the 200th birthday of Norwegian comedy writer Ludvig Holberg, known as the 'Molière of the North'.
Cultural Impact
Some of Grieg's Lyric Pieces, like 'March of the Trolls' and 'Wedding Day at Troldhaugen', are among his most famous works and were selling "like hot cakes" even in 1904.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Grieg intentionally used and refined forms similar to Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words and Schumann's small forms, aiming to create 'dwellings for people in which they feel comfortable' rather than 'temples and churches'.
Composition History
The Ballade in G minor, Grieg's longest solo piano piece, was composed during a period of personal hardship, including the death of his parents and a suspected marriage crisis.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Edvard Grieg considered his Lyric Pieces for piano a kind of poetic diary, stating they represent a slice of his intimate life.
