Twelve Lyric Pieces
for solo piano (1883-1901)
by Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)
orchestration by Richard Rijnvos (2017)
42 minutes
Given that Edvard Grieg left us with a rather modest amount of original compositions for orchestra, this brand new orchestral arrangement of his masterly short piano pieces offers a welcome change within the standard repertoire, as well as a new perspective on that in which he excelled: composing small gems of pure magic.
With one or two exceptions, most of these exquisite Lyric Pieces have not been arranged for full-size symphony orchestra before. Furthermore, out of the total collection of sixty-six, this selection of twelve has an extra dimension in that it passes through all tones of the circle of fifths.
Starting with the melancholic Melody in A minor, providing a prominent role for the cor anglais, we move on to the joyful Scherzo in E Minor from opus 54, followed by the Elegy in B minor. Next is F-sharp major, D-flat major, A-flat major, and so on, and so forth, until we reach full circle: the ever so festive Wedding Day in Troldhaugen, set in D major.
1. opus 47 - no. 3 - Melodi2. opus 54 - no. 5 - Scherzo
3. opus 47 - no. 7 - Elegi
4. opus 43 - no. 6 - Til våren
5. opus 71 - no. 2 - Sommeraften
6. opus 57 - no. 4 - Hemmelighet
7. opus 71 - no. 3 - Småtroll
8. opus 38 - no. 8 - Kanon
9. opus 47 - no. 2 - Albumblad
10. opus 54 - no. 4 - Notturno
11. opus 68 - no. 6 - Valse mélancolique
12. opus 65 - no. 6 - Bryllupsdag på Troldhaugen
photo: Summer Night by the Beach (1902-1903) by Edvard Munch (1863-1944)
Scoring
2(II=picc).2(II=ca).2.bcl.2- 4.1.2.0-timp-perc(1)-hrp-str(12.12.10.8.6)
orchestration dedicated to
Elisabeth Lokke Owre
première
t.b.a.
