Edvard Grieg Popular Song Rankings [2026]

Ballad in Variation Form on a Norwegian Folk Song, Op. 24Edvard Grieg29rank/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.

Piano Sonata, Op. 7Edvard Grieg30rank/position

Grieg Piano Sonata Op. 7, 1st movement

This piano sonata was composed in 1865.

Overall, the piano unfolds in a free, imitative manner.

Arpeggiated chords are scattered throughout, and just as one gets a sense of glittering brilliance, the dissonant sonorities evoke a somewhat classical atmosphere.

Andante con moto for Piano TrioEdvard Grieg31rank/position

Seri plays Mendelssohn Piano Trio No.1,Op.49 II. Andante con molto tranquillo

Known as one of Grieg’s unfinished works, this piece is a beautiful trio for violin, cello, and piano.

Composed in 1878, it was not published until a century later, in 1978.

A single powerful theme unfolds dramatically, leading to a grand climax involving all three instruments.

It features Grieg’s characteristic warm melodies that evoke the Norwegian landscape, along with deeply expressive emotion.

Highly recommended not only for classical music enthusiasts but also for anyone who wants to drift into the scenery of the Nordic world.

Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16Edvard Grieg32rank/position

Ryoma TAKAGI performed Grieg Piano Concerto with New Japan Phil for J-LODlive

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.

Piano Concerto in A minorEdvard Grieg33rank/position

Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16 / E. H. Grieg

A masterpiece that expresses Nordic nature and national character through music has been born.

Composed by Norway’s celebrated composer Edvard Grieg at the age of 25, this work strongly reflects the characteristics of Romantic music.

It consists of a first movement that begins with powerful chords, a second movement of poetic beauty, and a brilliant third movement influenced by folk songs, featuring melodies evocative of the rugged nature of the fjords.

Premiered in Copenhagen on April 3, 1868, it has remained beloved around the world ever since.

It is a highly recommended piece for those who wish to feel the grandeur of nature and the spirit of a people.

Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46: ‘The Death of Åse’Edvard Grieg34rank/position

Death of Aase from Peer Gynt

Grieg was a Norwegian musician.

In 1874, at the request of Henrik Ibsen, a Norwegian playwright, Grieg composed incidental music for the play Peer Gynt.

The second piece, Aase’s Death, is a lament depicting Peer watching over the death of his grandmother, Aase.

Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46: In the Hall of the Mountain KingEdvard Grieg35rank/position

Grieg - In the Hall of the Mountain King | Pianist: Yuki Kondo

The suite Peer Gynt by the Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg is part of the incidental music written for a play by the Norwegian playwright Ibsen.

In it, In the Hall of the Mountain King depicts a scene where the protagonist, Peer Gynt, is being cornered by trolls.

To heighten tension and eeriness, the piece is characterized by a structure in which the tempo and volume gradually increase.

Starting quietly and accelerating toward the climax, it brilliantly conveys a sense of impending danger.

You can also sense the influence of Norwegian folk music, revealing Grieg’s aspect as a “nationalist” composer.

It’s a perfect piece for creating a Halloween atmosphere—highly recommended for those who want to enjoy a spooky, fantastical world.