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[Grieg’s Piano Pieces] Beautiful works by a composer who loved Norway
Edvard Grieg was a national romantic composer who loved his native Norway and created numerous works inspired by Norwegian folk music.
With melodies that evoke the beautiful mountains of the Nordic lands and a distinctive world that makes it feel as if the stories are unfolding before your eyes, his music continues to captivate many classical music enthusiasts and performers even more than a hundred years after his passing.
In this article, we highlight works by Grieg written for piano, as well as pieces he arranged and published for piano himself,
introducing them along with the background of their composition.
[Grieg’s Piano Pieces] Beautiful Works by a Composer Who Loved Norway (1–10)
Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16Edvard Grieg
The only piano concerto by Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg, the Piano Concerto in A minor, Op.
16.
Written when he was just 25, it is regarded as an early masterpiece of Grieg’s.
The work consists of three movements, notable for their use of sonata form, compound ternary form, and rondo-sonata form.
The cascading piano phrases of the first movement evoke the waterfalls of the fjords; the string melody of the second movement conveys a gentle sense of fulfillment; and the third movement expresses a lively yet majestic atmosphere.
Influenced by Schumann yet imbued with the unique world of Grieg—praised as possessing a “truly Nordic soul”—this is a celebrated work filled with his distinctive spirit.
Lyric Pieces, Book I, Op. 12, No. 4: ‘Elves’ Dance’Edvard Grieg
Edvard Grieg, who loved Norway and drew inspiration from his homeland’s folk music, created numerous works.
“Elf Dance,” included in the first book of Lyric Pieces, is characterized by a lively rhythm and melody that, as its title suggests, evoke fairies dancing.
With the piano’s uniquely delicate timbre and expressive performance, this piece conjures a distinctly Nordic landscape and is cherished by a wide range of people—from piano learners to professional performers.
Lyric Pieces, Book III, Op. 43, No. 4: “Little Bird”Edvard Grieg
Among the 66 pieces included in the Lyric Pieces, Little Bird is a work that captivates with Edvard Grieg’s characteristically beautiful melody and delicate atmosphere.
Its melody, carried by a light rhythm, seems to echo the chirping of a small bird.
The bright, hope-filled mood that evokes the coming of spring is sure to soothe the listener’s heart.
Conveying a love of nature, this piece is perfect for developing expressive skills in the course of learning the piano.
Ballad in Variation Form on a Norwegian Folk Song, Op. 24Edvard Grieg
The music of Edvard Grieg, Norway’s national composer, is rooted in the country’s folk traditions and is characterized by warm melodies that evoke Norway’s rugged nature and fjords.
From a young age, he showed a strong interest in music, exploring a variety of sounds and harmonies, and he composed a large-scale work consisting of 14 variations and a coda based on a Norwegian folk song.
This piece embodies his profound sorrow and despair, making it both technically and emotionally rich.
It is one of Grieg’s representative piano works that I highly recommend not only to those familiar with classical music but also to those who are new to it.
Hommage to Chopin, Op. 73Edvard Grieg
Edvard Grieg, who drew inspiration from Norwegian folk songs and left many lyrical works, composed Homage to Chopin for piano, included in Moods, Op.
73—Grieg’s final collection of piano pieces completed in 1905.
Expressed in Allegro agitato, the piece reflects a profound understanding of and respect for Chopin’s style, and it places high demands both technically and expressively.
It is a masterpiece in which the musical sensibilities of two great composers, Chopin and Grieg, are fused.
Lyric Pieces, Book I, Op. 12: No. 1 “Arietta”Edvard Grieg
As its name suggests, Edvard Grieg’s Lyric Pieces is a collection of lyrical and beautiful works—66 short pieces for piano in total.
The set is divided into ten books, with Arietta placed at the very beginning of Book I.
The year Book I was published, 1867, was also the year Grieg married his wife, Nina Hagerup.
About 34 years later, the final piece of Book X, Remembrances, brings the collection to a close by presenting a variation of the Arietta motif.
Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46: I. MorningEdvard Grieg
On hearing the introductory melody, most people probably feel, “Ah, morning has come.” It is often used as background music for morning-related scenes on television programs, and even without knowing the details of the piece, many Japanese listeners can’t help but picture a fresh, invigorating morning.
This piece, Morning, is one movement from the Peer Gynt Suite composed by the Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg.
Its beautiful melody, perfect for the morning, puts performers and listeners alike in a pleasant mood.
By learning about the story of the play that inspired the piece and the intentions the composer imbued in it, you can shape a performance with greater depth.
