Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales
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Were I to provide a roll call of the composers whose music is of essential and special importance in the piano repertoire, Grieg’s name would be an early and easy addition to that shortlist (as indeed it was when I considered what music to include in The Joy of Graded Piano series).
For those who haven’t discovered the wonders, variety and joy of Grieg’s music, most of which is suitable for late intermediate and early advanced players (UK Grades 5-8), a new collection from Edition Peters offers a superb introduction to the man and his music.
A Piano Treasury
Grieg: A Piano Treasury is a beautifully presented collector’s edition, which Grieg’s original publisher and musical champion have produced in association with Kode, an association of four art museums and three composers’ homes in and around Bergen, Norway, including Grieg’s home, Troldhaugen.
The book begins with an introduction by Christian Grøvlen, Director of Music and of the Grieg House, Kode, who succinctly and accurately proclaims:
“Edvard Grieg’s world is a world of poetry.”
The ten-page Preface (in German and English) introduces the composer, his world, and his music, including introductions to the sample of 23 late intermediate to early advanced works that follow.
Interspersed with photographs off the composer, his house, piano, family and friends, the text here offers a succinct but fascinating overview, easily readable by players with no specialist knowledge, and inspires a hunger for the music which follows.
And how fitting this intimate portrait is, because Grieg’s music similarly presents an evocative album of his immediate world, the expansive Norwegian scenery, and the culture in which his artistic life played out.
The Grieg Album
The 23 pieces which follow are (in alphabetical order):
- Abend im Hochgebirge / Evening in the Mountains
- An der Wiege / At the Cradle
- Arietta
- Die letzte Sonnabendnacht / Last Saturday Evening
- Die Mädchen aus dem Kivledal / The Maidens from Kivledal
- Einsamer Wanderer / Solitary Traveller
- Gjendines Wiegenlied / Gjendine’s Lullaby
- Halling (in D)
- Humoreske / Humoresque (in C)
- In der Halle des Bergkönigs / In the Hall of the Mountain King
- Kobold / Puck
- Kuhreigen / Cow Call (in G)
- Lockruf / Cow Call (in D)
- Melodie / Melody (A minor)
- Morgenstimmung / Morning Mood.
- Nachklänge / Remembrances
- Norwegisch / Norwegian Melody
- Notturno
- Sarabande (from Holberg Suite)
- Solveigs Lied / Solveig’s Song
- Springdans (in C)
- Vals / Waltz (A minor)
- Wächterlied / Watchmen’s Song
In the edition, these works appear roughly in order of difficulty, beginning with the beloved Arietta Op.12 No.1, which has appeared in the UK Grade 4 exam lists numerous times, and is surely one of the most ecstatic piano miniatures ever composed.
Three more pieces appear from the Lyric Pieces Op.12 collection, and several from later books in that cycle of ten albums of character pieces, each of which were hugely anticipated upon their release, and were quickly established among the most popular domestic piano music of their age.
Mixing with these well known favourites, Grieg: A Piano Treasury finds room for a few youthful pieces, some of the composer’s later Norwegian Folk Song arrangements, the Sarabande from the Holberg Suite, and simplified arrangements of the composer’s piano versions of Morning Mood, Solveig’s Song, and In the Hall of the Mountain King from his masterpiece of incidental music, Peer Gynt.
Grieg’s Publisher
Appearing as they do in landscape format, rather than the more usual portrait orientation, the scores take just a little getting used to, but Grieg’s music is intensely melodic, and I found myself enjoying the way longer phrases are laid out clearly on the page. Taken from the Grieg Complete Works, and presumably adapted from the Edition Peters first editions, they include additional fingerings by Roland Eben.
Commenting on Grieg’s career-long association with Edition Peters, Christian Grøvlen’s introduction tellingly quotes from a letter sent to the composer by Max Abraham (1831-1900), who promoted Grieg’s works from the time he joined Edition Peters in 1863 until his death:
“You will have received the anniversary catalogue. In the latter, of course, your name plays a major role, for the publishing house owes you an infinite amount. Almost 40 years ago I received your Op.1 and since then I have been so happy to publish all your marvellous works, with very few exceptions. My thanks for this will never expire.”
How marvellous that, well over a century later, Edition Peters continue to promote this astonishing artistic legacy, indeed hopefully now introducing his music to another generation of enthusiastic players.
Closing Thoughts
Grieg’s music has long played an important part in my own piano journey. I first enjoyed playing several of the easier pieces in this collection in my formative years after taking up lessons aged 9.
When I left my first teacher to take up a music scholarship aged 11, she predicted that in a few years I would equally fall in love with the music of Sibelius. She was right (of course!) and yet it is to the music of Edvard Grieg that I have returned with supreme and continuing affection throughout my life, as a listener, a player, and a teacher.
My hope is that this small book will be cherished by many who are just discovering this treasury for the first time. I can neither imagine a more appropriate tribute, nor a more accessible introduction to this fabulous repertoire.
I will leave the final words to Christian Grøvlen, who tells us,
“I hope this edition can open the door to Grieg’s universe, as you take your first steps into the Lyric Pieces, his masterful folk songs, the Holberg Suite, Norwegian Peasant Dances and much more. For me, Grieg’s music is reminiscent of Norwegian nature: wild, bold, timeless, and eternally beautiful.”
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