Grieg: Pictures From Everyday Life / Ballade, Op. 24
2/17/1996, 16 Tracks, 1:04:01
Featuring
Einar Steen-Nøkleberg
Edvard Grieg
Did you know?
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Composer Biography
Edvard Grieg, the composer, was encouraged to pursue music by violinist and composer Ole Bull, who was instrumental in sending Grieg to the Conservatory in Leipzig at age fifteen.
Critical Reception
Despite his popularity with audiences, Grieg faced increasing criticism from the musical "establishment" in his later years, who questioned his abilities and talent as a composer.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Harmony was Grieg's "dream-world," and he believed the secret depth of Norwegian folk-songs came from their rich, untold harmonic possibilities.
Performer Biography
Einar Steen-Nøkleberg, the pianist on this album, is a Norwegian musician who has won several awards, including the Norwegian Critics Prize for Best Performance and the Grieg Prize.
Cultural Impact
Grieg's piano compositions, being technically accessible to competent amateurs, contributed to his widespread popularity and made him one of the most played composers in Europe.
Compositional Technique
Grieg's music often features rhythms taken from folk-dances, and he believed that understanding and feeling the dance rhythm was paramount to playing his compositions.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Grieg's development as a composer was decisively shaped by Rikard Nordraak, who believed that the future of Norwegian music lay in nationalism and folk-songs.
