John McCabe, the pianist on this recording, was a distinguished British musician with an international reputation as both a composer and pianist.
Composer Biography
Grieg was the first great composer to travel around his homeland collecting folk tunes from the rural population in the late 1880s and 1890s.
Compositional Technique
The unique tuning of the hardanger fiddle, a Norwegian folk instrument, influenced the harmonic and melodic style of Grieg's Slåtter.
Composition History
The Slåtter (Norwegian Peasant Dances) were inspired by hardanger fiddle player Knut Dale, who suggested Grieg note down traditional fiddle tunes to preserve them.
Recording & Production
This recording of Grieg's piano works was made from John McCabe's personal, somewhat tattered, second-hand copy of the Slåtter music, bought for 20p.
Cultural Impact
Grieg's piano music had an international influence on composers like Delius, Debussy, and Ravel, despite being viewed with condescension by some.
Critical Reception
John McCabe's interest in Grieg's music went against the general critical view that Grieg was a composer of 'charming drawing-room trifles' of little consequence.
