Lyric Pieces
Lyric Pieces (Norwegian: Lyriske stykker) is a collection of 66 short pieces for solo piano written by Edvard Grieg. They were published in 10 volumes, from 1867 (op. 12) to 1901 (op. 71). The collection includes several of his best known pieces, such as Wedding Day At Troldhaugen (Bryllupsdag på Troldhaugen), To Spring (Til våren), March of the Trolls (Trolltog), and Butterfly (Sommerfugl).
The theme of the first piece in the set, Arietta, was one of the composer's favorite melodies. He used it to complete the cycle in his very last lyric piece, Remembrances (Efterklang) — this time as a humorous waltz.
In 2002, Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes recorded a CD with 24 of the lyric pieces on Grieg's own 1892 Steinway grand piano at Troldhaugen, the composer's residence. Among other notable pianists to make recordings of the collection are Walter Gieseking, Sviatoslav Richter, Emil Gilels, Eva Knardahl, Andrei Gavrilov, Håkon Austbø, Einar Steen-Noekleberg, and Gerhard Oppitz. A few recordings and piano rolls of Grieg himself performing also exist, and they have been published by the Norwegian record label Simax.
Complete Listing
Op. 12 (composed 1866-7?; published 1867):
- No. 1, Arietta
- No. 2, Vals (Waltz)
- No. 3, Vektersang (Watchman's song, after Macbeth)
- No. 4, Alfedans (Elves' dance)
- No. 5, Folkevise (Popular melody)
- No. 6, Norsk (Norwegian melody)
- No. 7, Albumblad (Albumleaf)
- No. 8, Fedrelandssang (National song)
Op. 38 (composed 1883 except where noted; published 1883):
- No. 1, Berceuse
- No. 2, Folkevise (Folk-song)
- No. 3, Melodi (Melody)
- No. 4, Halling (Dance)
- No. 5, Springdans (Spring dance)[1]
- No. 6, Elegi (Elegy)
- No. 7, Vals (Waltz, originally composed 1866; revised 1883)
- No. 8, Kanon (Canon, composed ca. 1877-8?; revised 1883)
Op. 43 (composed probably 1886; published 1886):
- No. 1, Sommerfugl (Butterfly)
- No. 2, Ensom vandrer (Solitary traveller)
- No. 3, I hjemmet (In my homeland)
- No. 4, Liten fugl (Little bird)
- No. 5, Erotikk (Erotikon)
- No. 6, Til våren (To spring)
Op. 47 (composed 1886-8 except where noted; published 1888):
- No. 1, Valse-Impromptu
- No. 2, Albumblad (Albumleaf)
- No. 3, Melodi (Melody)
- No. 4, Halling
- No. 5, Melankoli (Melancholy)
- No. 6, Springtanz (Spring dance[1], composed 1872?; revised 1888)
- No. 7, Elegi (Elegy)
Op. 54 (composed 1889-91; published 1891):
- No. 1, Gjetergutt (Shepherd's boy)
- No. 2, Gangar (Norwegian march)
- No. 3, Trolltog (March of the Trolls)
- No. 4, Notturno [2]
- No. 5, Scherzo
- No. 6, Klokkeklang (Bell ringing)
Op. 57 (composed 1890?-3; published 1893):
- No. 1, Svundne dager (Vanished days)
- No. 2, Gade
- No. 3, Illusjon (Illusion)
- No. 4, Geheimniss (Secret)
- No. 5, Sie tanzt (She dances)
- No. 6, Heimweh (Homesickness)
Op. 62 (composed 1893?-5; published 1895):
- No. 1, Sylfide (Sylph)
- No. 2, Takk (Gratitude)
- No. 3, Fransk serenade (French serenade)
- No. 4, Bekken (Brooklet)
- No. 5, Drømmesyn (Phantom)
- No. 6, Hjemad (Homeward)
Op. 65 (composed 1896; published 1897):
- No. 1, Fra ungdomsdagene (From early years)
- No. 2, Bondens sang (Peasant's song)
- No. 3, Tungsinn (Melancholy)
- No. 4, Salong (Salon)
- No. 5, I balladetone (Ballad)
- No. 6, Bryllupsdag på Troldhaugen (Wedding day at Troldhaugen)
Op. 68 (composed 1898-9; published 1899):
- No. 1, Matrosenes oppsang (Sailor's song)
- No. 2, Bestemors menuet (Grandmother's minuet)
- No. 3, For dine føtter (At your feet)
- No. 4, Aften på højfjellet (Evening in the mountains)
- No. 5, Bådnlåt (At the cradle)
- No. 6, Valse mélancolique (Melancholy waltz)
Op. 71 (composed and published 1901):
- No. 1, Det var engang (Once upon a time)
- No. 2, Sommeraften (Summer's eve)
- No. 3, Småtroll (Puck)
- No. 4, Skogstillhet (Peace in the woods)
- No. 5, Halling
- No. 6, Forbi (Gone)
- No. 7, Etterklang (Remembrances)
References
- ^ a b Although Spring Dance is the traditional translation of the Norwegian Springdans, the word refers to its sense in English of "leap" or "jump" rather than to the season "spring". The booklet notes to Grieg: Complete Works for Piano Solo; Gerhard Oppitz, Piano (RCA Victor Red Seal 09026-61569-2, (c) & (P) 1993) [1] use the less ambiguous translation "Leaping Dance".
Bibliography
Grieg, Edvard (2008): Thematisch-Bibliographisches Werkverzeichnis, ed. Dan Fog, Kirsti Grinde and Øyvind Norheim. Frankfurt/Main Leipzig London New York: Henry Litolffs Verlag
Horton, John and Nils Grinde, "Edvard Grieg," Grove Music Online, ed. L. Macy (accessed 25 May 2008) [3]
Krellmann, Hanspeter (2008): Griegs lyrische Klavierstücke: Ein musikalischer Werkführer. München: C.H. Beck
External links