Edvard Grieg Popular Song Rankings [2026]

Funeral March in Memory of Rikard Nordraak, EG 107Edvard Grieg41rank/position

Edvard Grieg – Funeral March for Rikard Nordraak

While taking the form of a funeral march, this work deftly incorporates elements of Norwegian folk music.

It consists of a weighty main section in B-flat minor and a contrasting middle section in the major key, and is characterized by Norwegian-style melodies.

The deep sorrow at the untimely death of a close friend and the respect paid to him imbue the piece with a moving quality that resonates with listeners.

Grieg himself held the work in very high esteem and wished for it to be performed at his own funeral.

It is highly recommended for those interested in music that evokes Norway’s rugged nature and national character.

waltzEdvard Grieg42rank/position

Grieg: Waltz, Op. 12 No. 2 (from Lyric Pieces)

One piece from Grieg’s Lyric Pieces, in which his rich lyricism is fully displayed and which became one of his signature works.

As the title suggests, it is written in the waltz rhythm of 3/4 time.

It’s best to play with a clear sense of the three beats so that one could dance a waltz to it.

Grieg, a pianist-composer who represents Norway, wrote many works that carry a certain nostalgic, folk-like character.

This piece, too, is an appealing work in which a folk-inflected melody is exquisitely interwoven with the social dance rhythm of the “waltz.”

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Violin Sonata No. 3 in C minor, Op. 45Edvard Grieg43rank/position

Grieg: Violin Sonata No. 3 in C minor, Op. 45 – I. Allegro molto ed appassionato Pf. Seiko Miyamoto Vn. Sayaka Mabuchi

Among Grieg’s violin sonatas, this is the most popular and is still frequently performed today.

It opens with a boldly energetic passage, and from the middle section the violin’s gentle timbre lends it a charming character.

At its 1887 premiere, Grieg himself played the piano.

It is the last work he wrote using the traditional sonata form.

Symphonic DancesEdvard Grieg44rank/position

Edvard Grieg – Symphonic Dances / Danses Symphoniques

It is also known as the Four Symphonic Dances.

It was originally composed as a piano duet and later completed as an orchestral arrangement.

The piece opens in a very light and lively manner, and overall it has a brilliant, festive character.

When introducing calmer sections, the soft timbre of the bassoon is frequently employed.

From Lyric Pieces, Book VIII: Wedding Day at TroldhaugenEdvard Grieg45rank/position

Grieg: From Lyric Pieces Book VIII, “Wedding Day at Troldhaugen,” Op. 65 No. 6

The piece begins with a light, cheerful rhythm.

The joy of the wedding is so great that the couple seems ready to break into a little dance together.

The middle section grows quiet, but the bright rhythm returns.

In the end, you can almost hear thunderous applause all around.

It’s a piece that makes you so happy while listening that you can’t help but smile.

I love you.Edvard Grieg46rank/position

Jeg elsker dig! – Edvard Grieg

A song dedicated by the Romantic composer Edvard Grieg to his fiancée when he was 21.

It was included as the third piece in Grieg’s Op.

5, Four Songs of the Heart.

Based on a poem by Andersen, it conveys deep feelings for a beloved.

Its simple yet passionate melody blends beautifully with lyrics that vow eternal love.

It is popular as a piece for weddings and anniversaries, and is recommended for listening with someone special.

There is also an arrangement for violin and piano, and its appeal lies in the fact that it can be enjoyed in a variety of instrumental settings.

Mountain Girl, Op. 67Edvard Grieg47rank/position

Grieg: Møte from Haugtussa, Op.67 (Lyric Video), Lise Davidsen & Leif Ove Andsnes

Incorporating Norwegian folk music, this work is an eight-song cycle that portrays the love and heartbreak of Veslemøy, a shepherd girl.

Often described as a female counterpart to Schubert’s Die schöne Müllerin, it offers a unique allure as a love story told from a woman’s perspective.

It delicately expresses the girl’s inner feelings—her imaginings on the blueberry hill, her encounter with a young man, and her longing for purification of the heart.

Richly imbued with Nordic nature and mysticism, it is known as a masterpiece representative of Grieg’s nationalist style.

Highly recommended for those interested in Nordic landscapes and culture, and for anyone who wants to savor the subtleties of human emotion through music.

phantomEdvard Grieg48rank/position

Grieg, Lyric Pieces Book VI No. 3 “Phantom” Op. 57 • Mizuki

The melody is played as if searching for a phantom, flowing with a somewhat sorrowful, scalar line.

The chromatic passages sound as though it is exhausted from searching, or struggling on while lost yet still searching earnestly.

In the end, it returns to the same mood as the beginning and comes to a quiet close.

String Quartet in G minor, Op. 27Edvard Grieg49rank/position

Edvard Grieg String Quartet No 1 in G minor, Op 27

It begins with a very powerful passage, followed by increasingly intense melodies.

In the middle section it shows a gentler side, yet the cello’s low register, rendered with trills, imparts a subtle sense of unease.

In the latter half, the music turns open and supple in character.

It is one of the most original and daring string quartets, leaving a profound influence on later generations.

Lyric Pieces, Book 10, Op. 71: No. 3 “Puck”Edvard Grieg50rank/position

38th Winners’ Commemorative Concert A1 Category [Gold Prize] Takumi Ishihara / Grieg: Puck, Op. 71 No. 3

Edvard Grieg’s Lyric Pieces, Book X, Op.

71 No.

3 “Puck” (1901) is a solo piano work with a fantastical atmosphere.

The piece conveys the folklore and natural beauty born of Norway’s landscape, and its sound is accessible even to lower elementary school children.

When practicing, keep a light touch with an image of a dancing sprite, and pay close attention to pedaling and rhythmic precision.

Studying this as a competition piece will help you experience the depth of music and the joy of piano performance.