Edvard Hagerup Grieg (1843 – 1907) was a Norwegian
composer and pianist. He is widely considered one of
the leading Romantic era composers, and his music is
part of the standard classical repertoire worldwide.
His use and development of Norwegian folk music in his
own compositions brought the music of Norway to
international consciousness, as well as helping to
develop a national identity, much as Jean Sibelius and
Bedrich Smetana did in Finland and Bohemia,
respectively. He is the most celebr...(+)
Edvard Hagerup Grieg (1843 – 1907) was a Norwegian
composer and pianist. He is widely considered one of
the leading Romantic era composers, and his music is
part of the standard classical repertoire worldwide.
His use and development of Norwegian folk music in his
own compositions brought the music of Norway to
international consciousness, as well as helping to
develop a national identity, much as Jean Sibelius and
Bedrich Smetana did in Finland and Bohemia,
respectively. He is the most celebrated person from the
city of Bergen, with numerous statues depicting his
image, and many cultural entities named after him: the
city's largest concert building (Grieg Hall), its most
advanced music school (Grieg Academy) and its
professional choir (Edvard Grieg Kor). The Edvard Grieg
Museum at Grieg's former home, Troldhaugen, is
dedicated to his legacy.
Edvard Grieg's Lyric Pieces for solo piano consist of
ten separate suites, each containing a number of
relatively short character pieces. These ten suites
were composed over the span of Grieg's compositional
career and are representative of the composer's
extraordinary gift for writing for the piano. Each of
the 66 Lyric Pieces is an attempt to convey to the
listener a certain scene or mood through lyrical means.
Because of the relative lack of technical difficulty of
many of the pieces, it is often believed that Grieg
composed them for students of the piano.
Grieg composed Lyric Pieces Book III, Op. 43 in 1883.
In the six pieces of this suite, the composer perfected
the art of the short character piece for solo piano.
The second piece, "The Solitary Traveler," tells the
story of a lonesome person with no permanent home. The
last movement of Lyric Pieces III is "To Spring," in
which Grieg effectively conveys the beauty of the
Norwegian springtime. The Lyric Pieces IV, Op. 47
(1888) are not as straightforward as the previous three
suites. Many of the movements have a nervous quality.
Also, it is difficult for the performer to keep a
steady tempo throughout the pieces.
Although originally composed for Piano, I created this
Interpretation of the "To the (Norwegian) Spring" from
Lyric Pieces (Book 3 Op. 43 No. 6) for Oboe & Strings
(2 Violins, Viola & Cello).
SHEET MUSIC