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Grieg wrote a total of 5 Sonatas in his lifetime: 1 for solo Piano, 3 for Violin & Piano, and 1 for Cello & Piano. Of these, his Piano Sonata in E Minor, Op. 7 seems to be the most popular. The Piano Sonata was written in 1865 when Grieg was only 22 years old; the Violin Sonata No. 1 in F Major, Op. 8 was also written in 1865; Violin Sonata No. 2 in G Major, Op. 13 was written in 1867; the Violin Sonata No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 45 (his most popular of the three Violin Sonatas) was written in 1887; and the Cello Sonata in A Minor, Op. 36 was written in 1883.
Piano Sonata in E Minor, Op. 7:
I. Allegro Moderato
II. Andante Molto
III. Alla Menuetto, Ma Poco Piu Lento
IV. Finale, Molto Allegro
There is a particular recording I wish to highlight: Grieg's own. He recorded his Piano Sonata back in the early 1900's. Here are the last two movements:
Joined: 28 Sep 2007 Posts: 7594 Location: London, England
Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 4:32 pm Post subject:
More Einstein, great! The listening list is getting bigger by the moment, but Thursday is 'drink with the Old Guard after work' day for me, so I'll be responding a little later than usual ce soir. _________________ "If I were but of noble birth..." - Rod Corkin
If there's only one thing in the world I like more than a violin sonata it's a cello sonata. Being primarily a chamber music sort of person I tend to rate a composer by their sonatas- and in this respect Grieg has nothing to fear. The three violin sonatas are excellent (at least going by the clips!) and it's easy to see why the third is most popular, even if it does sound more Russian than Scandinavian. There is great confidence in the expression of ideas and none of the uncertainty (from over fecundity) which seemed to create eccentricities in the quartet. The cello sonata seems first rate and can find a home with me anytime.
It's peculiar listening to the composer himself playing his own work- it creates certain problems regarding authenticity for subsequent interpreters; for instance, if Beethoven had left comparable recordings of is own sonatas would the Emperor insist on all subsequent interpreters reiterating the defined performance gesture for gesture? I believe Chopin once commented of his friend Liszt that Liszt played his [Chopin's] pieces better than he did himself- which sort of throws that ball up in the air a bit.
Anyway, these pieces certainly help cement my good opinion of Grieg. Good stuff Sorin! _________________ "No one achieves frivolity straight off. It is a privilege and an art;" - E M Cioran
"Nothing is true- everything is permitted." - Chaos maxim
Joined: 28 Sep 2007 Posts: 7594 Location: London, England
Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 8:08 pm Post subject:
Well Lieutenant,
The violin sonatas - The steely sounding fiddle grates these ears, though maybe the transfer to wma is partly responsible. Overly sentimental performances here, even for this sentimental music. You'd never guess the track from No1 was 'Allegro molto' vivace from this recording for example. These are not stellar works but I think the music could be better served that it is here. No3's sounds the most interesting of the three samples.
To the cello sounds easier on my poor ears. Yet how can this broad and largely moderate sounding piece be an 'Allegro molto'? And there's not too much 'Marcato' here methinks. Is this performance a gross mis-interpretation or was G's understanding of Italian somewhat confused? Or maybe it's a bit of both? _________________ "If I were but of noble birth..." - Rod Corkin
Joined: 03 Jun 2008 Posts: 2376 Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:09 pm Post subject:
Rod Corkin wrote:
To the cello sounds easier on my poor ears. Yet how can this broad and largely moderate sounding piece be an 'Allegro molto'? And there's not too much 'Marcato' here methinks. Is this performance a gross mis-interpretation or was G's understanding of Italian somewhat confused? Or maybe it's a bit of both?
I admit, I got the albums pretty cheap; a little store I went to had a discount rack with a bunch Grieg so I snatched it up... You'd think I'd have learned cheaper isn't better with recordings! I still enjoy listening to them, though. And yeah, it could just be that Norwegian Grieg had trouble with Italian! _________________
Not only do I like the music but rather unusually I like the recordings too which I'm sure will all be on period instruments. Can members please start posting rubbish music that I don't like so that I can stop spending money on CDs please. Thank you. _________________ "No one achieves frivolity straight off. It is a privilege and an art;" - E M Cioran
"Nothing is true- everything is permitted." - Chaos maxim
What did you guys think of Grieg's old performance, though? I find it quite exciting that we have these available to us today!
It's fascinating to listen to, it's just a terrible shame about the unavoidably low quality of the reproduction. But I refer you to my earlier point about the potential problems this could cause for future interpreters. I like to hear different interpretations, that's one of the things that I find fascinating about classical music in the first place. But I'm not sure everybody would concur- what say you? _________________ "No one achieves frivolity straight off. It is a privilege and an art;" - E M Cioran
"Nothing is true- everything is permitted." - Chaos maxim
Joined: 03 Jun 2008 Posts: 2376 Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 11:44 pm Post subject:
Melmoth wrote:
Sorin Eushayson wrote:
What did you guys think of Grieg's old performance, though? I find it quite exciting that we have these available to us today!
It's fascinating to listen to, it's just a terrible shame about the unavoidably low quality of the reproduction. But I refer you to my earlier point about the potential problems this could cause for future interpreters. I like to hear different interpretations, that's one of the things that I find fascinating about classical music in the first place. But I'm not sure everybody would concur- what say you?
Yes, it could potentially limit how this piece is played due to a few stodgy people insisting you should play it exactly as Grieg did. I kind of doubt this will impede pianists from experimenting with tempo and what-not, though. The version I have linked via ClassicCat uses a faster tempo through the third movement than Grieg himself uses. I think, ideally, you should listen to this old Grieg recording, take notes, then use that to formulate how you think it should be performed. Am working on the Piano Concerto thread at the moment! _________________
Joined: 28 Sep 2007 Posts: 7594 Location: London, England
Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 8:07 am Post subject:
Sorin Eushayson wrote:
What did you guys think of Grieg's old performance, though? I find it quite exciting that we have these available to us today!
Yes regardless of the quality if you like Grieg you are in a lucky position to have this recording. As far as i could discern I found the performance rather laid back actually, not fire and brimstone. Given what i have written above re Greig's tempi I must now presume this must be his desired approach. _________________ "If I were but of noble birth..." - Rod Corkin
Joined: 03 Jun 2008 Posts: 2376 Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 9:44 am Post subject:
Rod Corkin wrote:
Sorin Eushayson wrote:
What did you guys think of Grieg's old performance, though? I find it quite exciting that we have these available to us today!
Yes regardless of the quality if you like Grieg you are in a lucky position to have this recording. As far as i could discern I found the performance rather laid back actually, not fire and brimstone. Given what i have written above re Greig's tempi I must now presume this must be his desired approach.
Probably. Apparently, when Liszt performed Grieg's Piano Concerto Grieg got after him for moving too quickly through the first movement. Despite what old Edvard thinks, I tend to like my music nice and fast! _________________
Joined: 03 Jun 2008 Posts: 2376 Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 11:07 pm Post subject:
This one is probably more for Melmoth. Perusing Amazon.com I came across a $3 download of something called "Grieg: Cello Concerto"; apparently some chap has gone and arranged the cello sonata as a concerto! I went for it and though it's quite syrupy (even for Grieg) I thought it was fairly enjoyable (you'll make a romantic out of me yet, Mel!). They overdid it with the cymbals and chimes, which can get annoying... Anyhow, see what you think...
Joined: 12 Jan 2008 Posts: 1638 Location: Idaho Falls, ID
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 4:38 am Post subject:
Somehow I missed this one entirely!
After giving these a listen, I have to say that Grieg and the piano don't do it for me. It is fascinating to hear the composer perform the work himself, but I don't think it would detract from later performers giving it a go. (Just think of rock bands now covering previous artists and how differently each one can sound.)
The violin & piano sonatas were better, but very laid back in tempo and style. Definitely not allegro (unless it's compared to his other work perhaps?). _________________ "I learned more from a three minute record, than I ever did in school."
Joined: 03 Jun 2008 Posts: 2376 Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 4:42 am Post subject:
smileyman wrote:
Somehow I missed this one entirely!
Nearly my entire Grieg series was posted during the time you were gone, so I'm not surprised!
Thanks for the comments. The tempo seems to be a strange issue with Grieg; apparently he liked his music taken slowly and interpreted broadly. _________________
Joined: 03 Jun 2008 Posts: 2376 Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 11:14 am Post subject:
Sorin Eushayson wrote:
I do wonder what you and Melmoth think about this arrangement, though. Seems a bit too much to me, though is still interesting to hear. _________________
Joined: 03 Jun 2008 Posts: 2376 Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 11:49 pm Post subject:
Rod Corkin wrote:
Sorin Eushayson wrote:
I do wonder what you and Melmoth think about this arrangement, though. Seems a bit too much to me, though is still interesting to hear.
I heard it last night, didn't rock my world, but some people may like it.
Ah, just saw this. Yes, it seems a very mediocre arrangement, but as I said, it's interesting to hear the work from a different perspective. _________________
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