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Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907)
The Complete Music for Piano
Eva Knardahl, Love Derwinger(piano)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Kjell Ingebretsen
Norrköping Symphony Orchestra/Jun’ichi Hirokami
rec: 1977-1980, Nacka Aula, Sweden (CDs 1-10); December 1978,
Henry Wood Hall, London, England (Piano Concerto); March
1993, Linnköping Concert Hall, Sweden, and May 1993, Nybrokajen,
Sweden (CDs 11-12). ADD/DDD BIS CD1626/28 [12
CDs: 65:21 + 66:54 + 62:05 + 64:47 + 66:29 + 70:00 + 64:52
+ 65:56 + 72:24 + 65:30 + 62:14 +
60:34]
Norwegian-born
pianist Eva Knardahl, who died in late 2006, had a very long
career. Well-known in her native Norway, she made her debut
at the age of 12 performing with the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra.
Throughout her life, she recorded a variety of works for
piano, paying special attention to the works of Norwegian
composer Edvard Grieg. This box set contains 12 CDs, covering
all of Grieg’s compositions for piano.
Knardahl
performs on the first ten discs in the set, and Love Derwinger
is the pianist for the recordings on discs 11 and 12. This
is a repackaging of individual discs that were released over
the years, with the Knardahl recordings made between 1977
and 1980, and the Derwinger recordings dating from 1993.
It seems unfair that only Knardahl gets her name on the front
of the box; Derwinger is credited only on the back. Knaredahly’s
recordings were issued first on LP and then reissued on CD
in 1987.
The
set contains a comprehensive booklet in English, Swedish,
German and French, nearly 180 pages long - about 30 pages
of text for each language. Fortunately, unlike many other
Bis booklets, this one printed in a font that does not require
a magnifying glass to read.
Grieg's
piano music is one of the monuments of keyboard music, and
probably deserves to be regarded much more highly. While
not as intense as Beethoven's piano sonatas, or the works
of Chopin or Liszt; while not as lofty as the vast output
of Bach or that of Mozart, Grieg's piano music combines not
only a unique impressionistic approach to the piano, but
also elements of folk music from his native Norway. On top
of that, many of the tunes in the short pieces are so engaging
that you'll find yourself humming them.
Grieg's
piano works are mostly made up of short pieces. His 66 lyric
pieces, were composed throughout his career but there are
also collections of Norwegian folk songs, peasant dances
and other works. With just one piano sonata, and one piano
concerto - but what a concerto! - his oeuvre is largely one
of miniatures. But the size of these works in no way detracts
from their interest and force. One can simply listen to the
first of the Lyric Pieces, Arietta, to understand
just how subtle Grieg's compositional style is. In a simple-sounding
ballad of just over a minute, he manages not only to paint
a melancholy picture, but also demonstrates that his harmonies
are unique and unforgettable. This is a brief piano piece
that is more a song without words than a statement of keyboard
music.
The
three discs of lyric pieces span his entire career, so listening
to them in order offers not just a journey through melody,
but also an opportunity to listen to how Grieg's style grew
over time. His Op. 4 no. 3, Melody, has an intense, melodramatic
sound, as does, for example, Op. 54, no. 1, Shepherd's
Boy, which is a dark work. Some pieces have such lightness
that one can only smile when listening to them. In a way,
however, it is fitting that the final work in this series,
Op. 71, no. 7, Forgetting, is a reworking of one of
the earliest lyric pieces, Waltz, Op. 12 no. 2. Grieg
comes full circle with this last lyric piece, showing the
subtle ways in which his music evolved.
While
there is pleasure enough in listening to the progression
of Grieg's style through the first three discs of lyric pieces,
one can start again with disc 4, which begins another examination
of Grieg's career in chronological order. While it makes
sense to group the lyric pieces on the first three discs
- which also corresponds to the original release of these
recordings on individual discs - it might have been more
logical to reorder all the music so the twelve discs flowed
in chronological sequence, rather than having two "sets" within
the box.
Beginning
with the earliest pieces, his Op. 1, Four Piano Pieces, his Poetic
Tone-Pictures (Op. 3) and so on, the set traverses his
output. In spite of the different names given to groups of
works, Grieg's tone does not vary a great deal. All the pieces
cover a range of tones from melancholy to exuberant, from
bittersweet to pastoral.
An
exception can be found in his sets of Norwegian folk songs,
where he arranged the raw material of his country's music
heritage for solo piano. These helped gain him greater notice,
and are one of the finest examples of folk-music brought
into the concert hall. There are dozens of such works, many
of them tiny gems, others more substantial.
Grieg
also wrote one piano sonata, which is somewhat different,
on the surface, from his smaller works. A true romantic sonata,
it nevertheless features his now familiar song-like approach
to music, especially in its second movement. This sonata
was and is often performed, yet it is surprising that he
did not write another. He remained more interested in his
miniatures though he also wrote orchestral and chamber works.
In the same manner, he composed just the one piano concerto,
which is an extremely popular and oft-performed work. It
is played here by Knardahl, with the original version also
performed by Love Derwinger.
One
work that stands out is the Ballade in G minor, Op. 24, the
longest amongst Grieg's pianistic output at just over 20
minutes in this recording. This comprises a series of 14
variations on a Norwegian folk song. Grieg composed this
piece after the deaths of his parents in the autumn of 1875.
He was overcome with grief, and that comes through in this
densely emotional work Knardahl plays it with her emotions
at her fingertips.
Some
of the pieces are transcriptions from Grieg's larger orchestral
works, such as Peer Gynt, Sigurd Jorsalfar,
and the Holberg Suite. Grieg very much enjoyed making
piano reductions of these works, and his transcriptions shed
interesting light on the larger works from which they derive.
The
last two discs contain works not published during Grieg's
lifetime. Whether the early version of the Piano Concerto,
alternate versions of a few works, or some very early pieces
that he never deemed interesting enough for publication,
these two discs in essence offer the extras or out-takes
of Grieg's piano output.
Across
the 787 minutes of this set, I have to confess to a preference
for Grieg's shorter pieces over the piano sonata, concerto
and Ballade. From almost any time in his career, from his
lyric pieces to the Norwegian folk songs, from his "short
pieces" to his transcriptions of his own songs, dipping
into this astounding range of work is never disappointing.
In the same way that Schubert rarely wrote a mediocre lied,
Grieg has very few weak piano pieces. You can dip into these
works at any time and the gods of shuffle will pull out an
interesting juxtaposition of pieces that, in spite of when
they were composed, fit together organically. There is so
much here - again, the comparison to Schubert's lieder comes
to mind - that one can explore these works for years and
never truly get to the bottom of them. While the last two
discs contain some works that are, perhaps, minor, the remainder
of this set is a collection of gems that sparkle from any
angle.
The
recording quality of these discs is excellent, and the piano
sounds present without too much reverb, though the Derwinger
recordings are a bit hollower than the Knardahl discs. The
recording hall adds a different type of reverb, and Derwinger
plays a Steinway to Knardahl’s Bösendorfer. For an interesting
recording, you might also want to listen to Leif Ove Andsnes'
selection of Lyric Pieces played on Grieg's own piano. Given
the price and completeness of this set, and the quality of
the performances, there is little reason for you to hesitate.
Even if you've only sampled Grieg's works in the past, this
budget set is a fine reason to discover the full range of
his piano compositions. Should you not want all this Grieg,
however, the individual discs are still available from BIS,
and the three CDs of Lyric Pieces would be a great
purchase.
Kirk McElhearn
Complete
track list CD1 - Vol. 1 (Knardahl) [65:21] BIS-CD-104.
Jan 1987
Lyric Pieces Book 1 Op. 12
Arietta; Waltz; Watchman's song; Fairy Dance; Folksong; Norwegian;
Album Leaf; National Song
Lyric Pieces Book 2 Op. 38
Berceuse; Folksong; Melody;
Halling; Springdans; Elegy; Waltz; Canon
Lyric Pieces Book 3 Op. 43
Butterfly; Solitary Traveller; In my native Country; Little
bird; Erotikon; To Spring; Lyric Pieces Book 4 Op. 47
Valse-Impromptu; Album Leaf; Melody; Halling; Melancholy;
Springdans; Elegy
CD2 - Vol. 2 (Knardahl) [66:54] BIS-CD-105 Jan
1987 Lyric Pieces Book 5 Op. 54
Shepherd's boy; Norwegian March;
March of the Dwarfs;
Notturno; Scherzo;
Bellringing
Lyric Pieces Book 6 Op. 57
Vanished
days; Gade;
Illusion;
Secret;
She dances;
Homesickness
Lyric Pieces Book 7 Op. 62
Sylphe;
Gratitude;
French serenade;
Brooklet;
Phantom;
Homeward
CD3 - Vol. 3 (Knardahl) [62:05] BIS-CD-106 Jan
1987 Lyric Pieces Book 8, Op.
65
From Early Years;
Peasant's Song;
Melancholy;
Salon;
Ballad;
Wedding-Day At Troldhaugen Lyric Pieces Book 9, Op.
68
Sailor's Song;
Grandmother's Minuet;
At Your Feet;
Evening In The Mountains;
At The Cradle;
Valse Melancolique Lyric Pieces Book 10, Op.
71
Once
Upon A Time;
Summer
Eve;
Puck;
Peace Of The Woods;
Halling;
Gone;
Remembrances
CD4 - Vol. 4 (Knardahl) [64:47] BIS-CD-107 Jan
1987 Four Piano Pieces Op. 1
Allegro con leggierezza;
Non allegro e molto espressivo;
Mazurka;
Allegro con moto;
Poetic Tone-Pictures Op.
3
Allegro, ma non troppo;
Allegro cantabile;
Con moto;
Andante con sentimento;
Allegro moderato;
Allegro scherzando Humoresques Op. 6
Tempo
di valse;
Tempo
di menuetto ed energico;
Allegretto
con grazia;
Allegro
alla buria
Sonata for piano solo Op.
7
Allegro moderato; Andante molto; Alla
menuetto ma poco più lento;
Finale: molto allegro
Funeral march: Rikard Nordraak
in memoriam
CD5 - Vol. 5 (Knardahl) [66:29] BIS-CD-108 Jan
1987 Norwegian Folksongs & Dances
Op. 27
Springdans;
The swain;
Springdans;
Nils Tallefjorden;
Dance from Jolster;
Wedding tune;
Hailing;
The pig;
Religious song;
Wooer's song;
Heroic song;
Solfager ant the snake-king;
Wedding tune;
I sing with a sorrowful heart;
Last saturday evening;
I know a little maiden;
The cleg and the fly;
Stumping dance;
Holje Dale;
Hailing;
Th woman from setesdal;
Cow-call;
Peasant song;
Wedding tune;
The raven's wedding;
Scenes from Folk life Op.
19
Mountain dance; Wedding procession; From the carnival
Four Album leaves Op. 28
Allegro con moto; Allegretto espressivo; Vivace;
Andantino serioso - Allegro giocoso
Improvisation on 2 Norwegian
folksongs Op. 29
Allegro con moto; Andante
CD6 - Vol. 6 (Knardahl) [70:00] BIS-CD-109 Jan
1987 Ballade G-Dur Op. 24
Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 Op.
46
Morgenstemning; Aases Død; Anitras Dans; Dovregubbens
Hall
Peer Gynt Suite No. 2 Op. 55
Bruderovet. Ingrids Klage; Arabisk Dans; Peer Gynts Hjemfart.
Stormfull Aften På Havet; Solveigs Sang
Three Orchestral Pieces From
'Sigurd Jorsalfar' Op. 56
Forspill: Ved Mannjevningen; Intermezzo: Borghilds Drøn;
Hyldningsmarsj
CD7 - Vol. 7 (Knardahl) [64:52] BIS-CD-110 Jan
1987 Holberg Suite Op. 40
Prelude;
Sarabande;
Gavotte;
Air;
Rigaudon Two Elegiac Melodies Op.
34
The wounded Heart; Last spring
Waltz-Caprices Op. 37
Tempo
di valse moderato;
Tempo
di valse Olav Trygvason Op. 50
Prayer; Temple
dance
Two Nordic Melodies Op. 63
In Folk Style; Cow call; Halling
CD8 - Vol. 8 (Knardahl) [65:56] BIS-CD-111 Jan
1987 Norwegian Folksongs, Op. 66
Cow-call;
It is the greatest foolishness;
A King ruled in the East;
The Sir Dale Song;
It was in my youth;
Call and Lullabye;
Lullabye;
Call;
It was a little lad;
Tomorrow you shall marry;
There stood two girls;
Ranveig;
A little grey man;
In Ola Valley, In Ola Tarn;
Lullaby;
Little Astrid;
Lullaby;
I wander in deep thought;
Gjendine's Lullaby
Song Arrangements, Op. 41
Cradle Song;
Little Haakon;
I love thee;
She is so white;
The Princess;
To Spring Song Arrangements, Op. 52
Mother's Grief;
The first Meeting;
You cannot grasp the wave's eternal course;
Solveig's Song;
Love;
Old Mother
CD9 - Vol. 9 (Knardahl) [72:24] BIS-CD-113 Jan
1987 Slåtter, Op. 72
Giboen's
Bridal March;
Jon Væstafæs
Springdance;
Bridal
March from Telemark;
Halling
from The Fairy Hill;
Springdance
From Os ;
Gangar After
My Llarguten;
Halling;
Bridal
March After My Llarguten;
Nils Rekves
Halling;
Knut Luråsens
Halling I;
Knut Luråsens
Halling II;
Springdance
After My Llarguten;
Havar Giboen's
Dream At Oterholt Bridge;
The Bridal
Procession Of The Goblins At Voss;
The Bride
From Skuldal;
The Girls
From Kivledal;
Gangar
Stemninger (Moods) Op. 73
Resignation;
Scherzo-Impromptu;
Night Ride;
Folk Tune;
Hommage A Chopin;
Students' Serenade;
Mountain Tune
Three Piano Pieces, Op. Posth
Tempest Clouds;
Procession Of The Gnomes;
In The Whirl Of The Dance
CD10 - Vol. 10 (Knardahl) [65:30] BIS-CD-113
Jan 1987 Piano
Concerto in A minor, Op. 16
Allegro molto moderato; Adagio;
Allegro moderato molto
e marcato
Norske Danser for firhendig
klavr (Norwegian Dances for piano 4 hands), Op. 35
Allegro
marcato; Allegretto
tranquillo e grazioso;
Allegro moderato alla marcia; Allegro
molto
Romanser (2 Romances), Op. 53
Norsk (Norwegian); Det forste mote (The First Meeting)
Norske Fjeldmelodier (6 Norwegian
Mountain Melodies), Op. 112
Springdans (Rustic Dance); Baadn-laat - Vuggevise (Lullaby);
Springdans (Rustic Dance); Sjugur aa trollbrura -
Folkevise (Popular Ditty); Halling; Guten
aa gjenta paa fjoshellen (The Lad and the Lass on the Barn
Floor)
CD11 - Vol. 11 (Derwinger)
[62:14] BIS-CD-619 June 1993 Piano Concerto in A minor,
Op.16 (original 1868/1872 version)
Allegro molto moderato;
Adagio;
Allegro moderato molto e
marcato
Larviks-Polka (1858) 23 Easy Pieces - Smaastykker
I. Allegro Agitato;
II. Allegro
desiderio;
III. Molto allegro
vivace;
IV. Andante;
quasi allegretto;
V. Allegro Assai;
VI. Allegro
con moto;
VII. Andante,
quasi allegretto;
VIII. Prelude.
Allegro assai;
IX. Andante,
moderato;
X. Andante Con
Gravita;
XI. Vivace;
XII. Largo con
estro poetica;
XIII. Allegretto
con moto;
XIV. Allegretto
con moto;
XV. Prelude
with 2 Voices. Con passione;
XVI. Allegro
assai, quasi prestoq;
XVII. Molto
adagio religioso;
XVIII. Allegro
molto;
XIX. Andante
moderato;
XX. Allegro vivace;
XXI. Andante
moderato;
XXII. Nicht zu
schnell, ruhing;
XXIII. Assai
allegro furioso
CD12 - Vol. 12 (Derwinger)
[60:34] BIS-CD-620 June 1993 Tre Klaverstykker, EG 105
Allegro agitato; Allegretto; Allegro molto e vivace, quasi Presto
Agitato, EG 106 (Mis)
Ved Halfdan Kjerulfs Minnestotte (Mis)
Poco adagio; Andante
Ten Songs
No. 8: Margretes
Vuggesang;
No. 14: Norsk
Sjomandssang; No. 17: "Fremad!"; No. 38: Ungbirken;
No. 57: Bjorneskytten; No. 71: Min Tankes
Tanke; No. 90: Vandring
i Skoven; No. 95: To brune
Ojne; No. 113: Serenade
til Welhaven; No. 150: Det frste
Mode
From 'Peer Gynt'
Forspill til
3. akt. Aases Dod; Arabisk Dans;
Anitras Dans;
Solveigs Sang;
Dans av Dovregubbens
Datter
Albumblad, EG 109
Bojarernes Indtogsmarsch, EG
183
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