Grieg’s successful series of Lyric Pieces reaches a unique climax in the eighth book. After the publisher almost had to force him – Grieg was at the point of becoming tired of composing Lyric Pieces – the composer succeeded in creating a spectacular and brilliant closing piece, “Wedding Day at Troldhaugen”. This recollection of Grieg’s own silver wedding anniversary is extremely effective, and performable not just by piano virtuosos – talented newcomers will also enjoy unlocking its technical secrets!
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Preface
Grieg wrote the eighth volume of his Lyric Pieces, op. 65, in the summer of 1896. On 18 June he confided to his publisher, Max Abraham of Peters in Leipzig: “To my dismay I must confess that I’ve been lyrical again. Now I can say with Leporello, ‘I don’t want to be a baker any longer, no, no, no, no!’ But for the moment it’s over and done with. Let me simply add, … more
Critical Commentary
About the composer
Edvard Grieg
Most important Norwegian composer of the nineteenth century and promoter of Norwegian folk music. His lyrical character pieces in particular are well known.
| 1843 | Born in Bergen on June 15, the son of a merchant and British consul; early piano lessons with his mother, who was a pianist. |
| 1858–62 | Studies at the Leipzig Conservatory. |
| 1862 | Concerts in Norway. |
| 1863 | Copenhagen, with the support of Niels W. Gade. |
| from 1864 | Interest in Norwegian folk music, which finds its way into his compositions. |
| 1866 | Breakthrough with a concert of Norwegian music. Conductor of the Philharmonic Society. |
| 1867 | The first of a total of ten volumes of Lyric Pieces for piano, Op. 12, with relatively simple piano settings. |
| 1868/69 | Composition of the Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16, which is based on Schumann’s piano concerto. |
| 1869 | “25 Norwegian Folk Melodies and Dances,” Op. 17, for piano. |
| 1873 | Begins work on the opera “Olav Trygvason,” Op. 50, after Bjørnson, which is never completed. |
| 1874 | Composition stipend from the state. |
| 1874/75 | Composition of incidental music to Ibsen’s “Peer Gynt,” Op. 23, the basis for the Peer Gynt Suites. |
| 1876 | Attends the premiere of Wagner’s “Der Ring des Nibelungen” in Bayreuth. |
| 1880–82 | Conductor of the “Harmonien” musical society in Bergen. Thereafter he accepted no other positions. |
| 1883 | Visit to Bayreuth; he hears Wagner’s “Parsifal.” |
| 1884 | Composition of “From Holberg’s Time,” Op. 40, his most popular work. |
| from 1885 | He moves into his villa “Troldhaugen” (near Bergen). Composition and revision of older works in spring and summer, concert tours in fall and winter. |
| 1891 | Composition of the “Lyric Suite,” Op. 54, orchestrated in 1905. |
| 1907 | Death in Bergen on September 4. |
About the authors
Ernst-Günter Heinemann (Editor)
Dr. Ernst-Günter Heinemann, born in 1945 in Bad Marienberg (Westerwald), completed his schooling in Gießen and read musicology, philosophy and German in Marburg and Frankfurt/Main and also for some time Protestant church music. He did his doctorate on “Franz Liszts geistliche Musik. Zum Konflikt von Kunst und Engagement”.
From 1978–2010 Heinemann worked as an editor at G. Henle Publishers (in 1978 in Duisburg, from 1979 onwards in Munich). He edited a great many Urtext editions for the publishing house, including “Das Wohltemperierte Klavier”, Volume 1 by Bach and all of Debussy’s piano works. In addition, he wrote essays on Debussy, Grieg, Liszt, Mendelssohn and questions concerning general editing, as well as giving seminars on editorial practice for musicology students in Munich.
Von Edvard Griegs "Lyrischen Stücken für Klavier" liegt nunmehr Heft VIII op. 65 vor (HN 713). Die Nr. 6 dieser Sammlung "Hochzeitstag auf Troldhaugen", gehört zu Griegs originellsten und erfolgreichsten Klavierstücken.
... Les éditions Henle en sont au huitième volume de ce qui sera une intégrale. Ce sont l'autographe et la première édition qui ont servi de sources à la présente édition. Les remarques placées à la fin du recueil comprennent des indications détaillées sur les sources, leur évaluation, ainsi que sur les problèmes éditoriaux.
Deze fraaie, gedistingeerde uitgave is bijzonder welkom ... Henle zorgt ervoor dat paginawisselingen in de regel ook met muzikale wisselingen samengaan ... Wat voor Henle overblijft is de goed gedocumenteerde inleiding door de onvolprezen Grieg specialist Einar Steen-Nökleberg en een uitgebreid notenapparaat, waarin een duidelijke verantwoording is opgenomen. ...