Edvard Grieg is the most famous and internationally successful Norwegian composer. He spent a lot of time travelling around Europe to perform his music, but he always longed for Troldhaugen in Bergen, the home that he shared with his wife Nina.
1. When was Edvard Grieg born?
Grieg was born in Bergen 15 June 1843, and died of emphysema on 4 September 1907, aged 64 years. He was the seventh person to be cremated in Norway, and the urns that hold the ashes of him and his wife are located on his property called Troldhaugen.
Read more about Troldhaugen Home of composer Edvard Grieg in Bergen.
2. Where was Edvard Grieg born?
Edvard Grieg was born in Bergen (Norway) in Strandgaten 152.
3. Troldhaugen Home of composer Edvard Grieg
Troldhaugen was the home of Edvard and his wife Nina from the villa was completed in 1886 until his death in 1907. This was Edvard and Nina home when he was not on tour abroad. The house is idyllically located by the lake Nordåsvannet just outside the center. Edvard and Nina are also buried at Troldhaugen.
Photo: Taken 15 June 1903 when Edvard Grieg celebrated his 60th birthday at Troldhaugen.
When you walk under the huge trees and feel the gravel crunch beneath your feet on your way to the view out over Nordåsvannet, it’s easy to understand why he chose to settle just here. The house is a typical 19th Century wooden villa, with a viewing tower and a large veranda.
Inside the house, among other things, is his Steinway grand piano.
Edvard Grieg's piano in Edvard Grieg Museum - Troldhaugen. Photo: Dag Fosse
When you stand next to the piano, it’s strange to think that the fingers of the pianist Grieg have played the music he composed all around the world on exactly this amazing instrument. Like “Piano Concerto in A-minor, op.16”, or maybe something from the Peer Gynt suite (for example “In The Hall of the Mountain King”).
During the summer you can attend lunchtime concerts every day at the Troldhaugen museum. There are also many other concerts and other events in Troldsalen thoughout the year.
Troldsalen concert hall. Photo: Dag Fosse
The attractions you can visit in Troldhaugen are the Villa Troldhaugen from 1885, the Composer’s Hut, the grave of Edvard and Nina Grieg, the chamber music hall Troldsalen from 1985, and the museum built in 1995.
The composer cabin. Photo: Dag Fosse
4. Alexandra Grieg
Edvard and Nina Grieg had one child. Alexandra Grieg was born in 1868, but died just 13 months old. Edvard was then 25 years old and Nina 23. They had no more children.
5. Edvard Grieg's height
Edvard Grieg was a big man musically, but only 152 cm tall. Both on Troldhaugen and outside the Grieg Hall you can see a statue of Edvard in true size. It is said that in the composers' cabin by the lake at Trolhaugen, Edvard sat on Beethoven's piano sonatas to reach the keys.
6. Edvard Grieg music
Grieg's music counts 74 works and includes piano music, lyrical pieces, songs, folk songs, chamber music and orchestral works. His love for Nina was the inspiration for many songs and romances.
7. Peer Gynt
One of Grieg's most famous works is the music he composed for Henrik Ibsen's play Peer Gynt. With its premiere in 1876, it became an immediate success and is today played on stages all over the world. Certian pieces of the music is often used as film music, especially the In the Hall of the Mountain King and Anitra's dance. Both the music of Peer Gynt and Grieg's clarinet concerto in A minor had a special significance for his popularity.
Read more about Grieg and the music written for Peer Gynt.
8. Morning mood
"Morning mood" is part of the stage music in Ibsen's play Peer Gynt. Suite no. 1 in Peer Gynt is perhaps the most popular part in Peer Gynt, with "Morning Mood", "Aase's death", "Anitra's dance" and "In the Hall of the Mountain King".
9. In the Hall of the Mountain King
"In the Hall of the Mountain King" from Peer Gynt (opus 23, movement 8), has become known as a separate concert piece and a popular piece both for orchestra but also in other popular culture.
Read more about "In the Hall of the Mountain King" here.
10. Edvard Grieg songs
Edvard's wife Nina was the inspiration for his many songs and romances. He even said that she was the only true performer of his songs. The romances play on a wide range of emotions and Grieg often complained about the interpretation in translations. The romantic melody"I Love You" became very popular in Grieg's time. Next to Haugtussa, the 6 German songs in opus 48 are also considered a highlight.
Edvard was a restless soul, and lived a busy life, traveling and touring around Europe. Maybe that was why he could evoke the national romantic style in his plays when he came home to Troldhaugen? The magic and lyricism that characterizes Norwegian nature is also what first and foremost characterizes his compositions. The fact that the piano pieces he composed were often so concise has given him the nickname "Nordens Chopin".
Read more about how to visit the home of composer Edvard Grieg in Bergen.
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