Edvard Grieg Popular Song Rankings [2026]

“Morning Mood” from Peer GyntEdvard Grieg21rank/position

'Morning Mood' from 'Peer Gynt' — Grieg

Incidental music by Edvard Grieg, one of Norway’s foremost composers, written for Henrik Ibsen’s play Peer Gynt.

The play recounts the story of the free-spirited Peer Gynt as he sets off on his travels and returns in old age.

Of the 26 pieces of incidental music, several were selected and published as orchestral suites.

Morning Mood, which opens Act IV, is a clear, luminous piece depicting dawn in the Sahara Desert.

Its flute melody is especially famous, conveying a grandeur as if the morning sun were beautifully illuminating the sands.

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HATSUMI

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Peer Gynt Suite No. 2: Solveig’s Song, Op. 55 No. 4Edvard Grieg22rank/position

Grieg : Peer Gynt suite n°2, Chanson de Solveig (Orchestre philharmonique de Radio France)

This is a song sung in Peer Gynt.

Solveig is the name of the girl whom Peer Gynt met at a village wedding.

She continued to wait for him after he set off on his wandering journey.

When he finally returned, the lullaby she sang to him is what we know as Solveig’s Song.

Morning from Peer Gynt SuiteEdvard Grieg23rank/position

Grieg: “Morning” from Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 | Grieg: Peer Gynt, Suite No. 1 “Morning Mood,” Op. 46

Among the incidental music published by Edvard Grieg in 1876, this piece is particularly well-known.

It was originally composed for a play and was later arranged into a suite.

The clear, transparent melody played by the flute at the opening beautifully evokes light breaking through the stillness.

The interplay between the flute and oboe is exquisite, conjuring images of the sky changing colors.

Because it is often heard as background music on television, many people associate it with a refreshing morning.

However, in the actual drama, the music depicts a sunrise in the North African desert.

It is recommended not only for leisurely holiday mornings, but also for those who want to fully savor the flute’s delicate timbre and expressive power.

By your sideEdvard Grieg24rank/position

Grieg Lyric Pieces, Book IX: By Your Side, Op. 68 No. 3 (piano: Walter Gieseking)

True to its title “By Your Side,” this piece overflows with love from start to finish.

The piano’s incredibly soft, warm tone seems to portray two people nestled close together.

The interweaving lines of the right and left hands are played as if entwined, stirring the feelings of someone in love.

Grandmother’s MinuetEdvard Grieg25rank/position

Grieg: Lyric Pieces, Book IX: Grandma’s Minuet [Naxos Classical Curations #Comical]

Because the title mentions a grandmother, one might easily imagine a relaxed musical character; contrary to that expectation, however, the music is played very lightly, with brisk, bouncing notes.

From this, one can picture a plump and endearing grandmother.

Anitra’s DanceEdvard Grieg26rank/position

Grieg: Anitra’s Dance (Anitras Dans) [Performance Score]

It is one of the representative pieces from Peer Gynt.

It is a dance in which Anitra, aiming for Peer Gynt’s fortune, tries to seduce him.

From beginning to end, it is performed with chordal textures.

Its technique and the piano’s sonority are reminiscent of Bach’s Baroque music.

From the Concerto in A minor (from Glover Piano Method, Vol. 3)Edvard Grieg27rank/position

From the Concerto in A Minor / Glover Piano Method Book 3 (page 35) [Recommended for recitals!] (Arranged version of Grieg’s Piano Concerto)

The Grover Piano Method is appealing for its simplicity that captures the essentials of piano learning.

Its structure helps students naturally acquire knowledge such as note values, time signatures, and keys, while developing sight-reading and expressive skills.

The main text consists of seven volumes—from an introductory book ideal for first piano lessons, followed by Vol.

1 through Vol.

6—and is complemented by a rich selection of supplementary materials, including companion song collections, short pieces, technique books, and drill books.

Because it also contains many elements of music theory, it’s an ideal resource for highly focused children aiming for a high level of achievement.

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Hommage to Chopin, Op. 73Edvard Grieg28rank/position

Grieg: Moods, Op. 73: V. Étude “Hommage à Chopin”

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.

Cello Sonata in A minorEdvard Grieg29rank/position

Edvard Grieg ‒ Piano Sonata, Op.7

Grieg’s only cello sonata, written for his brother John.

Structured in three movements, it is notable for its rich expressiveness and emotive melodies.

The first movement is intense and passionate, the second is calm and beautiful, and the third conveys the vitality of Norwegian folk dance.

It is a work in which the musical character evocative of Grieg’s native Norway’s nature and landscapes is splendidly fused with the influence of German Romanticism.

Premiered in Dresden in October 1883, with Grieg himself at the piano.

The profound emotion born from the dialogue between cello and piano resonates deeply with listeners.

Highly recommended for those who want to feel the spirit and character of Norway.

Ballad in Variation Form on a Norwegian Folk Song, Op. 24Edvard Grieg30rank/position

Edvard Grieg : Ballade en sol mineur op 24

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.