Grieg's friend Rikard Nordraak, author of the Norwegian national anthem, inspired Grieg to find his personal style by incorporating Norwegian culture into his music.
Compositional Technique
Grieg's piece "Bellringing" is described as almost experimental, featuring open fifths and syncopations in both hands, creating a strange atmosphere.
Composer Biography
Edvard Grieg, the composer, contracted pleurisy at age 17, an illness that affected him for the rest of his life.
Performer Biography
Daniel Propper studied with legendary pianist Tatiana Nikolayeva, who had him perform Bach's Goldberg Variations at the Salzburg Festival in 1990.
Composition History
During a trip to Jotunheimen, Grieg found new inspiration from a 19-year-old dairymaid, Gjendine Slaalien, who sang traditional folksongs naturally.
Composer Biography
Grieg often toured to perform his own works, accompany his wife Nina in songs, or conduct his symphonic pieces, as royalties from music sales were not a reliable income source.
Performer Biography
Daniel Propper, the pianist on this album, was born in Stockholm to a Swedish mother and Viennese father, and later settled in Paris to pursue his international concert career.
