Edvard Grieg(1843-1907)
- Music Department
- Composer
- Writer
Edvard Hagerup Grieg (Greig) was born on on June 15, 1843, in Bergen,
Norway. His father, named Alexander Greig (originally McGregor), was
English consul of Scottish origin. His mother, named Gesine Hagerup,
was an educated pianist. Grieg grew up among three sisters and an elder
brother. He began piano studies with his mother at the age of six. His
mother's brother-in-law, a famous violinist Ole Bull, recommended Grieg
to study at the Leipzig Conservatory. From 1858-1862 he studied music
in Leipzig under the tutelage of Ignaz Moscheles and graduated with
honors. From 1863-1866 Grieg lived in Copenhagen, where he continued
his music studies with 'Niels W. Gade'. He made progress towards Scandinavian
folk music while being an apprentice of Rikard Nordraak. Soon Grieg emancipated
himself from the German romantic tradition and grew towards the
development of his original style. Grieg's harmonies became unorthodox,
rich, and challenging for a public conditioned to classic compositions
of Mozart and Haydn. During the winter of 1865-1866 he was in Rome,
where he performed his music and earned a European reputation.
His love of the Norwegian folk culture and traditional melodies became
evident in his compositions written after 1866, the year Grieg returned
to Norway. He settled in Christiania (Oslo) and established himself as
a music teacher and concert performer. At the same time Grieg became
the founder of a concert society "Eutherpe" with a choir and a symphony
orchestra. His collection of "Lyrical Pieces" for piano made him a fine
reputation among musicians. Grieg was called the "Chopin of the North"
by Hans Bulow. In 1867 Grieg married his cousin Nina Hagerup, and their
only child died being only one year old. His famous Piano Concerto in A
minor was completed in 1868 and performed in Copenhagen. With a letter
of recommendation from Franz Liszt, Grieg received a state stipend for his
studies in Italy and spent a winter of 1869-1870 in Rome. There Grieg
performed his music and had meetings with Franz Liszt and other European
musicians. His collaboration with Norwegian writer Bjornson also began
in Rome. During the 1870's Grieg and Bjornson made several dramatic
compositions together. In 1876 Grieg was asked by Henrik Ibsen to write the
incidental music to "Peer Gynt", a play about the Norwegian folk hero.
Later Grieg made two "Peer Gynt" Suites for concert performances, which
scored international success.
In 1872 Grieg was made a member of the Royal Music Society in
Stockholm, Sweden. In 1874 Grieg was awarded the state annual grant of
1600 kronen from the Norwegian Storthing. He quit teaching and returned
to his hometown of Bergen. There he chose a natural environment for his
work. Grieg composed much of his music among the picturesque landscape
of forest, mountains, and sea at the Hardanger fjord. There he had a
cottage with a Steinway baby grand piano. Grieg's admiration with
serenity and beauty of the Norwegian landscapes was the essential part
of his music. Grieg wrote music of a distinguished lyrical quality and
emotional depth, which he expressed through refined melody lines and
sophisticated harmonic changes. His symphonic "Norwegian dances" and
"Norwegian peasant dances" allude to Scandinavian folk melodies. The
"Peer Gynt" suites and such pieces as "Solvejg's Song" and "Ein Schwan"
are characterized with power for creating pictures in the listener's
mind, which made them suitable for many film scores.
From 1878-1880 Grieg and his wife Nina, a professional singer, went on
a two-year journey. Grieg performed in many cities of Europe. He was
giving performances of his Piano Concerto in London during the 1880s
and 1890s. Grieg died on September 4, 1907, in Bergen, Norway, and was
laid to rest in a mountain cave at his countryside estate in
Troldhaugen, Norway. His wife Nina lived to the age of 90 and made
Grieg's villa in Troldhaugen into a museum. A concert hall was built
nearby to house the annual festivals of Grieg's music.
Norway. His father, named Alexander Greig (originally McGregor), was
English consul of Scottish origin. His mother, named Gesine Hagerup,
was an educated pianist. Grieg grew up among three sisters and an elder
brother. He began piano studies with his mother at the age of six. His
mother's brother-in-law, a famous violinist Ole Bull, recommended Grieg
to study at the Leipzig Conservatory. From 1858-1862 he studied music
in Leipzig under the tutelage of Ignaz Moscheles and graduated with
honors. From 1863-1866 Grieg lived in Copenhagen, where he continued
his music studies with 'Niels W. Gade'. He made progress towards Scandinavian
folk music while being an apprentice of Rikard Nordraak. Soon Grieg emancipated
himself from the German romantic tradition and grew towards the
development of his original style. Grieg's harmonies became unorthodox,
rich, and challenging for a public conditioned to classic compositions
of Mozart and Haydn. During the winter of 1865-1866 he was in Rome,
where he performed his music and earned a European reputation.
His love of the Norwegian folk culture and traditional melodies became
evident in his compositions written after 1866, the year Grieg returned
to Norway. He settled in Christiania (Oslo) and established himself as
a music teacher and concert performer. At the same time Grieg became
the founder of a concert society "Eutherpe" with a choir and a symphony
orchestra. His collection of "Lyrical Pieces" for piano made him a fine
reputation among musicians. Grieg was called the "Chopin of the North"
by Hans Bulow. In 1867 Grieg married his cousin Nina Hagerup, and their
only child died being only one year old. His famous Piano Concerto in A
minor was completed in 1868 and performed in Copenhagen. With a letter
of recommendation from Franz Liszt, Grieg received a state stipend for his
studies in Italy and spent a winter of 1869-1870 in Rome. There Grieg
performed his music and had meetings with Franz Liszt and other European
musicians. His collaboration with Norwegian writer Bjornson also began
in Rome. During the 1870's Grieg and Bjornson made several dramatic
compositions together. In 1876 Grieg was asked by Henrik Ibsen to write the
incidental music to "Peer Gynt", a play about the Norwegian folk hero.
Later Grieg made two "Peer Gynt" Suites for concert performances, which
scored international success.
In 1872 Grieg was made a member of the Royal Music Society in
Stockholm, Sweden. In 1874 Grieg was awarded the state annual grant of
1600 kronen from the Norwegian Storthing. He quit teaching and returned
to his hometown of Bergen. There he chose a natural environment for his
work. Grieg composed much of his music among the picturesque landscape
of forest, mountains, and sea at the Hardanger fjord. There he had a
cottage with a Steinway baby grand piano. Grieg's admiration with
serenity and beauty of the Norwegian landscapes was the essential part
of his music. Grieg wrote music of a distinguished lyrical quality and
emotional depth, which he expressed through refined melody lines and
sophisticated harmonic changes. His symphonic "Norwegian dances" and
"Norwegian peasant dances" allude to Scandinavian folk melodies. The
"Peer Gynt" suites and such pieces as "Solvejg's Song" and "Ein Schwan"
are characterized with power for creating pictures in the listener's
mind, which made them suitable for many film scores.
From 1878-1880 Grieg and his wife Nina, a professional singer, went on
a two-year journey. Grieg performed in many cities of Europe. He was
giving performances of his Piano Concerto in London during the 1880s
and 1890s. Grieg died on September 4, 1907, in Bergen, Norway, and was
laid to rest in a mountain cave at his countryside estate in
Troldhaugen, Norway. His wife Nina lived to the age of 90 and made
Grieg's villa in Troldhaugen into a museum. A concert hall was built
nearby to house the annual festivals of Grieg's music.