Sonatas for Violin and Piano (Grieg)

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The three Sonatas for violin and piano by Edvard Grieg were written between 1865 and 1887.

  • Violin Sonata No. 1 in F major, Op. 8 was written in Copenhagen in 1865.
  • Violin Sonata No. 2 in G major, Op. 13 was written in Norway in 1867.
  • Violin Sonata No. 3 in C minor, Op. 45 was completed while Grieg was living in Troldhaugen in 1887.

[edit] Violin Sonata No 3 in C minor, Op.45

The third Violin Sonata in C minor remains the most popular out of the three works, and has established itself in the standard repertoire. The work was also a personal favorite of Grieg's. Grieg was an accomplished pianist; the sonata premiered with Grieg himself at the piano with well-known violinist Adolf Brodsky in Leipzig. Grieg built on Norwegian folk melodies and rhythms in this three-movement sonata.

The first movement is characterized by its bold and heroic opening theme, which comes back later in the piece. It ends with thunderous C minor chords, as if portraying a doom. Then the second movement opens with a serene piano solo with a lyrical melodic line, a welcomed repose from the vigorous first movement. In the middle section, Grieg uses a playful dance tune. The third movement opens strikingly fast. In the middle section of the movement, the violin takes up a passionate melody on top of a swirling accompaniment in the piano. Towards the end, the opening material comes back, and the piece comes to a furious finish.

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