Grieg: Norwegian Dances, Op. 35 / Peer Gynt, Op. 23 / Waltz Caprices

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Cat No: 8553398

Release Date: 12 January 1999

Label: Naxos - Nxc / Naxos Classics

Packaging Type: Jewel Case

No of Units: 1

Barcode: 730099439824

Genres: Classical

Composer/Series: GRIEG

Description
EdvardGrieg (1843 - 1907) PianoMusic Vol. 12 Edvard Grieg was born in Bergen, on the west coast of Norway, in 1843. He showed a strong interest inmusic at a very early age, and after encouragement from the violinist andcomposer Ole Bull (1810 - 1880) was sent to the Conservatory in Leipzig at the age of fifteen to receive his musicaleducation. There he had fundamental and solid musical training, and through thecity's flourishing musical life, received impressions and heard music whichwould come to leave its stamp on him for the rest of his life - for better orfor worse. Even though he severely criticized the Leipzig Conservatory,especially towards the end of his life, in reality his exceptional gifts wererecognised, and one sees in his sketchbooks of the Leipzig period that he had the freedom to experimentas well. He had no good reason to criticize the conservatory, nor his teachers,for poor teaching or a lack of understanding. From Leipzig Grieg travelled to Copenhagen, bringing with him the solid musicaltraining he had acquired, and there soon became known as a promising youngcomposer. It was not long before he carne under the influence of Rikard Nordraak,whose glowing enthusiasm and unshakeable belief that the key to a successfulfuture for Norwegian music lay in nationalism, in the uniquely Norwegian, themusic of the people - folk-songs - came to play a decisive role in Grieg'sdevelopment as a composer. Nordraak's influence is most obvious in the Humoresquesfor piano, Op. 6, which was considered a turning-point in Grieg's career asa composer. In the autumn of 1866, Grieg settled in Christiania (Oslo).In 1874 Norway's capital was the centre for hisactivities. During this time he also wrote the majority of the works which laidthe foundation for his steadily increasing fame. In spite of his poor health-he had had a defective lung ever since childhood -he was constantly onconcert-tour as a pianist or as a conductor, always with his own works on theprogramme. After his last concert-tour in 1907, he wrote to his friend FrantsBeyer: This Tour has been strange. TheAudiences have been on my Side. In Germany I have received more ac claim for my ARTthan ever before. But the Critics both in Munich and in Berlin have let me know in no uncertain terms, thatthey think I am a dead Man. That is my punishment for my lack ofProductivity in these last Years, which my wretched physical condition hascaused. It is a hard and undeserved Punishment -but I comfort myselfwith the thought that it is not the Critics, who govern the world. (Letterto Frants Beyer, 5th March, 1907) ?áMore clearly than anything else, this letter shows a trend whichGrieg experienced in his later years in relation to his music. It was also adevelopment which would continue internationally until long after his death.Within the musical "establishment", there were increasing numbers ofpeople who were gradually becoming more critical of Grieg's music and of hisabilities and t
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