The creation is mainly composed of lyric piano sketches and vocal works (including more than 100 lyric solos). For example, the song "From the Motherland" (1894) expresses sincere feelings for the motherland with simple folk tunes, and the piano song "Song of the Motherland" (1868) eulogizes the glory of national history with the solemn style of Norwegian ancient folk ballads. The poet Beyonce Sonte matched this song with "Forward! This is the poem "The Call of Ancestors Fighting", which eulogizes the achievements of ancestors and cries out for the realistic struggle for national independence. In the chorus "Sailor's Song" (1868), "Hometown in Sight" (1870) and many works with national themes, the desire to safeguard national dignity and strive for independence was expressed with distinct national feelings, which adapted to the historical development trend of Norway at that time and had certain historical progress significance.
Among Grieg's creative themes, the most prominent are the magnificent and handsome natural scenery in northern Norway, the folk life in the countryside and the absurd images in fairy tales. For example, sketches of Norwegian folk life piano music (187 1) and Norwegian peasant dance (1903) based on folk songs and dance music, especially the piano lyric sketches that best represent his creative characteristics (***66, respectively published 10 sets. In these works, Norway's natural and folk life, and even the mythical world, are depicted as musical watercolors with magnificent colors and simple styles through artistic refinement of folk tones and meticulous carving and lyricism of scenery. Among them, it vividly reproduces the joyful scenes of Norwegian folk festivals and rural weddings, echoes the warm and lively melodies of typical Norwegian folk dance music Harlem and Spring, artistically simulates the fifth chord sound played by folk violinists in western fjords and pastoral songs of mountain herders, and vividly depicts the fantastic images of mountain demons, Feng Jing and dwarfs in folk fairy tales. In the exploration of national style (such as national music, the use of modes, the harmonious configuration of national colors, the specific rhythm and sound form of national dance music, etc.). ), we have gained rich experience.
In many lyric songs with the theme of personal spiritual life, Grieg expressed the feelings of joys and sorrows in life, praised love, maternal love and friendship, wrote lamentations for "the lost days" and sang short songs of sympathy for "the lonely tramp". For example, in such romantic lyric songs as I Love You (1864), Cabin (1869), Song of Wandering Artists (1876), Mother's Sorrow (1868), etc. He made great efforts.
During the period of 1874 ~ 1875, Grieg wrote two pieces of music for H. Ibsen's fantasy poetic drama Bill Gent. Later, he selected eight re-orchestrated songs and composed two orchestral suites, which became world-famous songs. The original play adopts Norwegian folklore, through the bizarre adventure life experienced by young farmer Bill (such as defeating mountain demons, plundering wealth and roaming in foreign countries, etc.). ), it mocks the greed for power and money and eulogizes the simple and natural ideal of life. Grieg also created a series of poetic and colorful soundtracks for the play. For example, the music of "Morning Scene" is like a cool spring. In the quiet pastoral atmosphere, it sets off the beautiful morning scene of the sun breaking through the clouds and vibrates the vibrant natural pulse; The wild and aggressive music of Mountain Magic Hall gives people an unforgettable and grotesque impression. The Death of Osei is Bill's elegy in front of his dying mother's bed, with sad melodies such as the last breath before going to bed and the slow decline of life. Song of Solvig is a masterpiece of all music, which depicts Solvig's docile and pure character and soul in a crystal clear and elegant folk song style. In addition, some exotic music fragments, such as Dance of Arabia and Dance of Anitra, which have typical oriental characteristics, are elegant, light and passionate, and are unique because of their colorful orchestration tones.
Works with outstanding artistic achievements and national characteristics include Piano Concerto in A minor (1868), Two Sorrow for Strings (Trauma and Late Spring,1881_) and Violin Sonata No.2 in G major (65438+). In memory of L.H.B Holberg, the founder and dramatist of Danish national drama, he created Holberg Cantata and the piano suite Holberg Times (1884, adapted into a string suite). The title fantasy essay "Piano Narration in G Minor" written on the theme of folk songs (1876) and so on. These works all reflect Grieg's ideological interest and fresh style in piano lyric sketches.
Many music researchers pointed out the significance of Grieg's later works at the French impressionist seminar on the voice of the new world. 1926 February, Morris. During his visit to Oslo, Ravel said, "My French composer class has been strongly attracted by his music. No composer except Debussy can arouse my * * * like Grieg. " Bella Bartok is a composer who tried to innovate the 20th century music form on the basis of folk music, and he also felt the great influence of Grieg's piano arrangement.
Edward. Grieg's goal is to create a form of national music that fully expresses the personality of the Norwegian people. In this respect, he is a great inspiration to other composers. However, the significance of his works is not limited to this. In fact, Grieg's music has already transcended national boundaries, which fully shows that he is not only a national composer. Greg
This piece has all the charm of Grieg music, such as pure melody full of Norwegian folk style, novel chords and exquisite rhythm. The music material is novel, full of vigor and youthful vitality. The author himself is piano master, so he gave full play to the performance of this instrument and formed a very free and colorful style, which is close to Liszt in piano skills. Although this song follows the tradition in musical form, it has various novel ideas in many subtle details, which can be seen that it develops quite freely in the third movement. The tone of the whole song belongs to the typical romantic nature, full of the beautiful and refined "Scandinavian sentiment" bred by the lush and densely forested mountains in northern Europe.
The whole song is divided into three movements:
Allegro in moderation in the first movement, in A minor, in 4/4 time, sonata form. At the beginning of the lead piano, the outline of the presentation part (fragment 1) is actively and completely displayed. The following theme is pure and simple, full of Nordic folk sentiment and longing for the future, which is a complete embodiment of the author's romantic artistic style (fragment 2) and brings the personality of Grieg's music into full play.
Adagio in D flat major, 3/8 beats, compound trilogy. In the first paragraph, a quiet and thoughtful theme is played gently by stringed instruments with silent instruments. In the second paragraph, the lead piano plays a beautiful fast melody, and the cadenza is fine. The second paragraph is more gorgeous and more skillful (the third paragraph). Soon, the rhythm of music gradually disappeared from shortness to calmness. The music entered the third movement without interruption.
The third movement strengthens the free conception on the basis of extremely gentle allegro, A minor, 2/4 beat and Rondo sonata form. The urgent speed of the lead piano is as passionate as Norwegian folk dance music (fragment 4), which constitutes a magnificent epic. The movement ended in a warm and jubilant atmosphere. Grieg was invited to compose music for Ibsen's poetic drama Pierre Ghent, which was completed between 1874 and 1875. However, the two suites (four paragraphs each) selected from the rating were not compiled until 1888 and 189 1. These two suites are the representative works of composer Grieg. Although the play Per Gint is not the masterpiece of Ibsen, a famous Norwegian writer and playwright, it occupies a very important position in all his plays. Ibsen's poetic drama Pierre Gent used a lot of symbols and metaphors, created a series of confusing visions and images, analyzed the extreme egoism of the upper class in Norway at that time, and touched many important political events in the world at that time. Regarding Ibsen's poetic drama, Grieg once summarized it in the title page of his second suite: "Pearl Gint is a role that is morbidly addicted to fantasy and has become a victim of power obsession and arrogance. When he was young, he had many rude and reckless actions and suffered many tricks from fate. Pearl Ghent ran away from home, traveled around, and came back as old as a dodder, capsized on his way home, leaving him as poor as when he left home. Here, his boyhood lover, Solvig, who has been loyal to him for many years, greeted him. Exhausted, he put his face on Solvig's knee and finally found a place to rest. " Although the second suite "Song of Solvig" is indeed a masterpiece, the first suite is more popular as a whole. The eight pieces selected for the two suites are only arranged according to the requirements of music, and are completely unaffected by the development of the original plot festival.
The first set of Pearl Gold is divided into four parts:
(A) "Morning Scene"
It was originally a prelude to the fourth act and the fifth scene of the poetic drama. The hero crossed the ocean, went to the United States to sell slaves, went to China to sell idols, and became a wealthy businessman for a while. At this time, he came to Morocco. One morning, in front of a cave, he revealed his inner activities with a monologue. But this piece is not a hot desert, but more like a quiet and fresh lyric picture in the morning in northern Europe. Music has an idyllic style, which is composed of a single pastoral theme that develops freely and meticulously (1 No.2).
(2) Death of OSS
When his mother Oz was dying, Pearl Gint came back. He recalled childhood scenes for his mother and accompanied her to the feast in heaven with fantastic stories. This is a very touching scene in the whole play. Grieg's music is solemn and solemn, which can be called elegy or funeral March.
(3) Dance of Annette
From the fourth act of the poetic drama to the sixth scene. In the desert oasis, in the tent of an Arab sheik, the sheik's daughter Anitra is dancing to please Pearl Gint. This piece depicts this scene, but strictly speaking, it goes far beyond its function as a soundtrack, because it directly participates in the content of the drama and becomes an inseparable part of the poem (fragment 3).
(4) In the Demon Palace
It turned out to be the prelude to the sixth scene of the second act of the poetic drama. The hero molested the daughter of the demon king in the mountains and married the demon king under the threat of the demon king. This scene points out the theme of the whole play, that is, the difference between man and demon, which is the real core of the most imaginative second act (fragment 4).
The second set of pearl gold is also divided into four parts:
(A) The Elegy of Ingrid
This was originally an episode before the second act. At a wedding in the country, the Pearl King abducted a friend's bride, ingrid, and took her to the mountain. After playing enough, she abandoned her and said that she really loved Solvig. This piece of music takes ingrid as the main image, showing a very excited and helpless mood, which can be called a wonderful Norwegian elegy.
Greg
(2) the Arabic dance music
(3) Princess Pearl
It was originally a prelude to the fifth act. In the fifth act, the image of the hero is already an old man with gray hair and beard. He stood in rags on the boat returning to Norway and looked very cold.
(4) "Song of Solvig" was written in 188 1, which is the second of four dances written by the author. It was originally a four-handed piano piece, which was adapted into a piano solo and orchestra in the same year and was widely circulated (fragment 1). The music adopts ABBA trilogy in A major, Allegro, 2/4 beat. Theme A has a jumping melody sound pattern, which combines the calm and solemn rhythm to form a relaxed and serene atmosphere. After this theme was repeated, it suddenly accelerated and played a contrasting middle theme B with a strong voice. This theme in F minor is rough and full of passion, which makes the music form a warm climax. Although the music in paragraph B is in sharp contrast with that in paragraph A, there is a close relationship between the theme materials. Finally, the music reproduces the beginning (paragraph A) and ends in a smooth and relaxed atmosphere.