Edvard Hagerup Grieg

Born: June 15, 1843 in Bergen, Norway

Died: September 4, 1907 in Bergen

Education: studies at the Leipzig Conservatory (Germany) with Ignaz Moscheles (piano) and with Carl Reinecke (composition) – After graduating from the conservatory (despite having only one working lung due to tuberculosis), Grieg traveled to Denmark and studied composition with Niels Gade.

Early success: While Grieg was still a student, his first work, the String Quartet in D minor, was given its premiere in Karlshamn, Sweden.

Assignments: From 1880 to 1882, Grieg worked as music director of both the Bergen Symphony and the Bergen Harmonien. Between 1867 and 1885, Grieg and his wife Nina (also his cousin) moved often and toured extensively, finally returning to Bergen in 1885.

Best known for: Perhaps Grieg’s best-loved work, Peer Gynt was composed as incidental music for a play of the same name by Grieg’s friend (and preeminent playwright) Henrik Ibsen. Since their earliest performances, the suites from Peer Gynt have remained favorites of audiences worldwide. Though his music suffered considerable disregard after his death, Grieg was always enthusiastically received wherever he traveled throughout his lifetime.

Notablecompositions: Piano Concerto in A minor, 1868 Peer Gynt, 1874-75 String Quartet No. 1, 1877-78 Cello Sonata in A minor, 1882-83 Ein Traum for voice and piano, 1884-88 Ave maris stella for double chorus, 1898

Quotes: In a comment not entirely complimentary, French impressionist composer Claude Debussy said that Grieg’s music was akin to “bonbons wrapped in snow.” Despite such occasionally tepid reception of his music, Grieg did have his champions, among them famed c0nductor Hans von Bülow who once called Grieg “the Chopin of the North.”