In anticipation of the 150th anniversary of Grieg's birth, this book traces Grieg's development from his early German romantic style, through his period of pronounced nationalism toward a more individual idiom in which he sought to fuse nationalism and universality into a genuine style of his own. The compositions are treated chronologically and stylistic analyses form the basic evaluations. The book focuses on characteristic stylistic traits as well as aspects of rhythm and harmony. The analysis of each single movement is followed by a brief synopsis of the formal construction of each composition.

xi + 94 pp.Parts available: Item N34P $20.00 per set

Critical essays on the music of Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg. Also includes "Chronological list of composition" and "Musical examples."

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1906 edition. Excerpt: ... ORCHESTRAL AND CHAMBER MUSIC While the majority of Grieg's works are songs and pianoforte pieces, there is yet a goodly supply of orchestral and chamber music. The "Grieg Katalog," printed by C. F. Peters in Leipsic* contains a list of nine works for orchestra: Overture, "In the Autumn," op. 1 1; "Two Elegiac Melodies" for string orchestra, op. 34; "Norwegian Dances," op. 35; "Holberg Suite" for string orchestra, op. 40; "Peer Gynt Suites," I. and II., op. 46 and 55; "Two Melodies" for string orchestra, op. 53; "Sigurd Jorsalfar," op. 56; "Two Northern Melodies" for string orchestra, op. 66. The orchestration of these pieces (op. 35 is by another hand) reveals Grieg as a consummate master of the art of painting delicate yet glowing colours on his canvas. These colours are more like those of Schubert and Dvorak than like those of Berlioz and Richard Strauss; in the visual world they have an analogue in the ethereal yet brilliant beauty of the Santa Rosa (Shirley) poppies created by Luther Burbank of California, the floral reformer, which elicit " ohs !" and " ahs !" from all who see them. Originality, too, is manifested by Grieg in this department of music as in all others. Professor Prout, in his standard work on orchestration (Vol. II, p. 254) strongly urges students to examine as being "particularly instructive" the " Holberg Suite," written for pianoforte and arranged by the composer for orchestra, by way of learning "how much alteration may sometimes be necessary in orchestral transcriptions of pianoforte music." In another place he cites the Andante Doloroso (Aase's Death) from the first "Peer Gynt" suite, where the opening theme is repeated very loudly, and remarks: "Here we have five-part harmony; and a strange and very unusual...