Edvard Grieg is the most celebrated person from the city of Bergen, with numerous statues depicting his image, and many cultural entities named after him: the city's largest concert building (Grieghallen), its most advanced music school (Grieg Academy) and its professional choir (Edvard Grieg Kor). The Edvard Grieg Museum at Grieg's former home, Troldhaugen, is dedicated to his legacy.
Grieg was born in Bergen, Norway on 15 June 1843. His ancestors were Scottish, the original family name was spelled "Greig". After the Battle of Culloden in 1746, his great-grandfather travelled widely, settling in Norway around 1770, and establishing business interests in Bergen. Grieg was raised in a musical home. His mother, Gesine, became his first piano teacher. He studied in several schools including Tank's School, and often brought in examples of his music to class.
In the summer of 1858, Grieg met the eminent Norwegian violinist virtuoso Ole Bull, who was a friend of the family, and whose brother was married to Grieg's aunt. Bull noticed the 15-year-old boy's talent and persuaded his parents to send him to further develop his talents at the Leipzig Conservatory, then directed by Ignaz Moscheles.
Grieg enrolled in the conservatory, concentrating on the piano, and enjoyed the numerous concerts and recitals given in Leipzig. He disliked the discipline of the conservatory course of study, yet he still achieved very good grades in most areas, the exception being the organ, which was mandatory for piano students at the time. In the spring of 1860, he survived the life-threatening lung disease, pleurisy, which would effect his health for the rest of his life. The following year he made his debut as a concert pianist, in Karlshamn, Sweden. In 1862, he finished his studies in Leipzig, and held his first concert in his home town of Bergen, where his programme included Ludwig van Beethoven's Pathétique sonata. (Grieg's own recording of his Piano Sonata, made late in his life, shows he was an excellent pianist).
In 1863, Grieg went to Copenhagen, Denmark, and stayed there for three years. He met the Danish composers J. P. E. Hartmann, and Niels Gade. He also met his fellow Norwegian composer Rikard Nordraak (composer of the Norwegian national anthem), who became a good friend and source of great inspiration. Nordraak died shortly after, and Grieg composed a funeral march in his honor. Grieg had close ties with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra (Harmonien) and was Music Director of the orchestra from 1880–1882.
On 11 June 1867, Grieg married his first cousin, Nina Hagerup. The next year their only child, Alexandra, was born. The following summer, Grieg wrote his Piano Concerto in A minor while on holiday in Denmark. Edmund Neupert gave the concerto its premiere performance on 3 April 1869 in the Casino Theater in Copenhagen. Grieg himself was unable to be there due to commitments conducting in Christiania (as Oslo was then named).
In the summer of 1869, Grieg's daughter Alexandra became ill and died, at the age of 13 months.
In 1868, Franz Liszt, who up to that time had not met Grieg, wrote a testimonial for him to the Norwegian Ministry of Education, which led to Grieg obtaining a travel grant as well as a pension from the Norwegian government. The two finally met in Rome in April, 1870. On Grieg's first visit, the two went over Grieg's Violin Sonata No. 1, which pleased Liszt greatly. On the second day of his visit, Grieg brought with him the manuscript of his Piano Concerto in A minor, which Liszt proceeded to sightread (including the orchestral arrangement). Liszt's rendition greatly impressed his audience, although Grieg gently pointed out to him that he played the first movement too quickly. Liszt also gave Grieg some advice on orchestration (e.g. to give the melody of the second theme in the first movement to a solo trumpet) as well as the encouragement to become a great composer.
In 1876, Grieg created incidental music for the premiere of Ibsen's play Peer Gynt, at the request of the author. Many of the pieces from this work became very popular in the form of orchestral suites or piano and piano-duet arrangements.
In 1888, Grieg met Tchaikovsky in Leipzig. Both men appreciated each other's works and were great friends, attending each other's concerts and writing each other letters. Their correspondence ended in 1888 for unknown reasons.
In the spring 1903, Grieg made nine 78-rpm gramophone recordings of his piano music in Paris; all of these historic discs have been reissued on both LPs and CDs and, despite limited fidelity, show his artistry as a pianist. Grieg also made live-recording player piano music rolls for the Welte-Mignon reproducing system, all of which survive today and can be heard.
Edvard Grieg died in the autumn of 1907, aged 64, after a long period of illness. His final words were "Well, if it must be so". The funeral drew between 30,000 and 40,000 people out on the streets of his home town to honour him. Following his wish, his own funeral march for Rikard Nordraak as well "Last Spring" were played in an orchestration by his friend Johan Halvorsen, who had married Grieg's niece. In addition, the famous funeral march from Frédéric Chopin's third movement from his Second Sonata were played. His and his wife's ashes are entombed in a mountain crypt near his house, Troldhaugen, which is near Bergen, Norway.
Solveig's Song
Edvard Grieg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Og naeste Sommer med, op det hele År
Men engang vil du komme, det ved jeg visst.
Her skal jeg nok vente, for det lovte jeg sidst.
Gud styrke dig, hvor du i Verden går
Gud glaede dig, hvis du for hans fodskammel står
Her skal jeg vente till du komme igjen
Og vente du hisst oppe, vi traeffes der, min Ven!
Solveig’s Song is a romantic, melancholic piece with a deep emotional importance. The song speaks of the enduring faith of a woman in her beloved, even in times of pain and longing. The lyrics reveal her undying love for her partner and the promise she made to wait for him, no matter how long it may take. The song presents the feeling of missing someone as synonymous with pain and longing, yet also highlights the deep connection between two souls who are intertwined in love.
The opening lines suggest that "winter, spring, and even the following summer" might pass before the beloved comes back. The singer, Solveig, makes a vow to wait for her loved one, assuring him that she will never falter in her devotion till he returns. The song speaks of a strong faith in God and invokes divine blessings for his safe return. The lyrics convey a sense of everlasting love, even in the face of uncertainty and despair. Solveig’s Song is a moving account of a woman's heart, her unyielding love, and her unbreakable spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
Kanske vil der gå både Vinter og Vår
Perhaps there will be both Winter and Spring, before the next Summer even arrives.
Og naeste Sommer med, op det hele År
And even through the entire next year, including the following Summer.
Men engang vil du komme, det ved jeg visst.
But I am certain that you will come at some point in time.
Her skal jeg nok vente, for det lovte jeg sidst.
I will wait here, as I promised before.
Gud styrke dig, hvor du i Verden går
May God strengthen you, wherever you may go in the world.
Gud glaede dig, hvis du for hans fodskammel står
May God bring you joy, if you should stand before His footstool.
Her skal jeg vente till du komme igjen
I will wait here until you come again.
Og vente du hisst oppe, vi traeffes der, min Ven!
And if you wait up there, we will meet again, my friend!
Writer(s): Edvard Grieg
Contributed by Madelyn R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@AngelSusie57
Wow, this selection of music brings oceans of feelings to me. It is so beautiful.
I can close my eyes and I can see myself walking in the forest, my
hair blowing in the breeze and my long gown flowing. I am crying because
I am missing my family, I am wondering if it is all worth it. Despair
sets in. I continue to walk. Then, all of a sudden, I come to a
clearing. I stop, I walk to the top and look down over a luscious green
valley with the ocean in the distance, I think what beauty, surely if
the Lord can make this, He can set me free. I sit and bow my head in
prayer, I look up and see the sun casting beautiful rays through the
clouds, I smile, I get up, I know all will be well. Sure, life has
sadness, but mixed in are times of wonder and happiness. Life is a gift,
I thank the Lord for it.
@clon4095
I have been looking for this piece for 15 years. Today is the day I finally found it AND I cannot put into words how ecstatic I am right now
@brozomicki-sothe307
Bruh good job finding it
@christinepamminger3549
wunderschön und melancholisch ! Danke für das hochladen
!
@susannabonke8552
✋😄😜🤩❣️❣️❣️
@ingejustavanderhelm5208
I am very happy for you. So wonderful how music can live within us.
@cellosing
There are many young people who are still loving classical music and peaceful walks, you are not alone in that - a kindred spirit in the United States :)
@pelmfbpndd7065
Well, in Germany, a lot has been lumbered since "certain so-called Romans, greetings from europ
@claudiaguglielmelli2225
Me since 3 months and I was born in 94 and I always listen to the classic and liric and military Marchs and this thanks to my mom dad and my grandpa by my mom and my grandpa by my dad too and with the finger I move it with the ritmics of the music like peace
@eevaliisarauvala8806
@@claudiaguglielmelli2225Rakastan sinua Grieg!😊
@SunRoadG07
As someone named Solveig, i feel truly honored that there is a song dedicted to me :))