Grieg, E :: Norwegian Dances

Norwegian Dances

Grieg, E

A visit to Troldhaugen tells a lot about Edvard Grieg. Because Grief and his wife Nina were both very short of stature, they called their home hill of the trolls, taking residence in 1885 until Grieg s death in 1907. Today it is a museum where visitors can see, in the main house, Grieg s piano with its shortened legs and his little red practice hut sitting on the waterfront. There today are the same upright piano, sofa, table, and chairs that furnished the small room for Grieg. On the piano chair are the two volumes of Beethoven piano sonatas. When asked why they were there, Grieg is reputed to have said, One is for inspiration, and the other is so that I can reach the keyboard.

That self-deprecating humor is evident in the Norwegian Dances, Op. 35, along with the other side of Grieg s personality - pride in his stature as Norway s leading composer and musical ambassador to Europe.

All four dances are in ABA form with a contrasting tempo in the middle section. The first dance is the Sinclair March from Vaga, commemorating a great Norwegian victory over Scottish intruders of the Battle of Kringen in 1612. The remaining three dances are all hallings (a vigorous dance in 2/4 meter, usually with a solo male dancer). The second dance, however, is different from the final two because it slower and lighter. The third dance features a middle section with the theme augmented in Grieg s harmonic dream world in the parallel minor key. The fourth dance has an added introduction and middle section original with Grieg, using what is sometimes called the Gypsy scale. This adds mystery and weight beyond the other three and heightens the brilliance of the ending.

For flute, clarinet in Bb, and piano.