Edvard Grieg
Biography
• Edvard Hagerup Grieg was born in Bergen, Norway, on June 15th 1843.
• His mother was his first piano teacher and taught him to play at the age
of six.
• Grieg graduated from the conservatory in 1862 after finding the premier
of his first work, with his string quartet in D minor, performed in
Karlshamn, Sweden.
• Grieg married his cousin Nina Hagerup, a talented pianist.
•
Grieg wrote his landmark opus, the Piano Concerto in A minor, one of the
greatest concerto piano sonatas.
• Some of Grieg's early works include a symphony and a piano sonata. He
also wrote three violin sonatas and a cello sonata.
• He is widely considered one of the leading Romantic era composers, and
his music is part of the standard classical selection worldwide.
• Grieg died in 1907 of chronic fatigue do to his lifelong health problems.
And now…
One of my favorite
pieces by Edvard
Grieg!!!
Piano Concerto in A minor
Listening Guide
Edvard Grieg: Piano Concerto in A minor, op. 16
Date: Published 1868
Genre: Romantic Period
What to listen for:
Melody – Stays close in close range and has wide leaps. Overall conjunct
Rhythm/Meter – Allegro Moderato, soft beat, fast upsurge in converting loud concertos.
Harmony – Dissonance with the overall piano concerto, consonance from verse to verse.
Texture – Mostly Homophonic, having the piano predominate the rest of the piece, but also
some polyphony from frequent verse changes.
Form – Certain sections repeated differently than before (louder, softer, shorter, and
longer)
Expression – Focuses on piano precision
Performing Forces – Instrumental sonata form
Text - Piano Concerto in A minor
Works Cited
David Brensilver, n. page.
<http://www.classicalarchives.com/composer/2643.html
(David Brensilver)
Harald Herresthal, N.p.. Web.
<http://www.mnc.net/norway/EHG.htm>.
(Harald Herresthal)