CLASSICAL MUSIC MAYHEM!!

Sorin Eushayson · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 3:15 pm Post subject: Grieg - Peer Gynt

The Works of Edvard Grieg: Thread 2 - Peer Gynt

Thread 1 (String Quartet) and General Information

In 1875 Edvard Grieg wrote incidental music for Henrik Ibsen's play, "Peer Gynt"; it premiered on February 24th of the following year. Grieg later arranged the music into two suites, Opus numbers 46 & 55. This is without a doubt Grieg's most popular work.

Peer Gynt: Grieg's Suites - Wikipedia

Peer Gynt: Information on the Play by Ibsen - Wikipedia

I figured I'd get this out of the way early on. Peer Gynt is problematic for me: on one hand, it's a clever little piece; on the other, it's so stereotypically "Grieg" that it almost makes me cringe whenever I hear it. Grieg seems to have gotten tired of it as well, refering to it at one point as garbage (I can't name sources for this, sorry; I distinctly remember reading that he called it "a piece of Danish garbage," though). Liszt reportedly told Grieg during their meeting that his music was hokey enough to be successful, yet skillful enough to be respectable. One thing's for sure: Peer Gynt seems to highlight all the hokeyness and forgo the skillfulness. At least, it does in my book. That said, I still enjoy listening to it... Rolling Eyes

The most popular parts are "In the Hall of the Mountain King," "Morning Mood," and "Anitra's Dance," (the latter known mainly via a piano transcription) so those are the samples linked below. If there are any in particular you would like to hear, speak up and I'll add them for you (not all of them, of course)! From the recording:

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Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46:
I. Morning Mood
II. Aese's Death
III. Anitra's Dance
IV. In the Hall of the Mountain King

Peer Gynt Suite No. 2, Op. 55:
I. The Abduction
II. Arabian Dance
III. Peer Gynt's Return
IV. Solveig's Song (This was originally written with lyrics to be sung by a vocalist, but is usually performed with solo violin instead, as is the case on the above-noted recording.)
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smileyman · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 3:36 pm Post subject:

This is actually the same recording I have. I also have some issues with the suites. There are pieces I love (such as In the Hall of the Mountain King), but it tends to start dragging for me. I find that it's easiest to listen to the suites a movement at at time, rather than all in one go.
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**Rod Corkin** · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 7:26 pm Post subject:

Melmoth · COLONEL Joined: 04 May 2008 Posts: 1054 Location: England

This is one of those pieces of music that is the victim of its own success- and so familiar it's difficult to actually hear it properly. This is the only Grieg I ever owned and I've nothing against it- but I'm afraid I never listen to it. But it is one of those works that is so immediately likeable that it is responsible for getting a lot of people interested in classical in the first place- probably it has populated more classical 'favourites' compilations than anything else!
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Sorin Eushayson · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:16 pm Post subject:

**Rod Corkin** · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:57 pm Post subject:

Sorin Eushayson · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 11:52 pm Post subject:

Melmoth · COLONEL Joined: 04 May 2008 Posts: 1054 Location: England

Separated at birth? (after an immensely protracted labour Rolling Eyes

)
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"No one achieves frivolity straight off. It is a privilege and an art;" - E M Cioran

Sorin Eushayson · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 1:16 am Post subject:

Sorin Eushayson · Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 11:09 am Post subject:

**Rod Corkin** · Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 11:17 am Post subject:

Sorin Eushayson · Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 11:51 am Post subject:

SB · Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 1:29 pm Post subject:

As I've come into the forum recently and haven't had as much opportunity to comment on Peer Gynt, I'll have to drop a comment here at this time, that is, my favorite of the music has to be Solveig's Song. I was fortunate to see Peer Gynt with the music, live, some years ago and the contexts of the music with the play worked well for me. I've always enjoyed even the more quirky Griegish of his works, but that is my own taste.

Sonjia Weber · Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 10:54 pm Post subject:

Nice topic Sorin! I think Greig's "Morning Mood" is beautiful, I wonder if he composed this in a house or cabin near the Fjord's in Norway? I can imagine him getting the inspiration of the beautiful scenery there, Greig is another one of my favorite composers.

Sonjia
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Sorin Eushayson · Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 11:41 pm Post subject:

Hey, thanks for the comments, guys! Yes, Peer Gynt is great. You're lucky to have seen the play with the music live, SB - I'm envious! Apparently it's one of the more popular dramatic works in Norway today.

That recording looks like a good deal, Kuhlau. Note the presence of 'In Autumn' and a few of Grieg's other, more lyrical works for orchestra. Fabulous.

Grieg wrote the work in 1875, which I believe would have placed him in Hardanger, Norway at the time. Norway certainly is a gorgeous place. I have not had the opportunity to visit my cousins there, but my grandparents have gone there numerous times and say it still retains that rustic charm. No doubt this would have inspired Grieg's creative (albeit a bit quirky) music!
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Bach: Clavierübung II

SB · Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 1:17 am Post subject:

While it's been a few years since I saw the play the thing that stands out in my mind more than anything is Solveig's Song and the theme from the song which was repeated from time to time in a beautiful and haunting fashion. I enjoyed the play very much as well as the music.

Sorin Eushayson · Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 2:51 am Post subject:

SB · Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 3:36 am Post subject:

SB · Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 3:42 am Post subject:

Once I had the complete Peer Gynt music on a Musical Heritage ablum, but got rid of all my LPs some time ago. I miss it.

**Rod Corkin** · Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 10:08 am Post subject:

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