File:Edvard Grieg by Charles Gerschel.jpg

Identifier: moderncomposerso00elso (find matches)
Title: Modern composers of Europe : being an account of the most recent musical progress in the various European nations, with some notes on their history, and critical and biographical sketches of the contemporary musical leaders in each country
Year: 1905 (1900s)
Authors: Elson, Arthur, 1873-1940
Subjects: Composers
Publisher: Boston : L.C. Page
Contributing Library: Harold B. Lee Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brigham Young University

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n by Elgar, and addnew lustre to English music. CHAPTER X. THE NORTHERN COUNTRIES Norway is preeminently a land of song. Itsgloomy forests, relieved by smiling meadows, andthe impressive loneliness of its sombre fiords haveat all times found musical expression. Its veryfolk-lore, half-Christian, half-pagan, lends itselfnaturally to tonal expression, and the melancholysweetness of the Norwegian folk-songs renders theminexpressibly attractive. The Hailing, the Spring-dans, and the Polska lend interest to the nationaldances, and give the Norwegian music a distinctflavour of its own. It seems as if native composerscould not help realizing the force of their ownfolk-music; yet the Danish Gade, after studyingin Germany, became in large measure a mere reflexof Mendelssohn. In the music of Grieg, however,these many beauties have found a truer expressionthan ever before in the history of any nation. Edward Hagerup Grieg was born in Bergen on June 15, 1843. As with many musicians of genius, 224
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EDWARD HAGERUP GRIEG. THE NORTHERN COUNTRIES 22$ his artistic instincts were aroused in the home; forhis mother, wife of the English consul at Bergen,was a woman of rare gifts, and trained him in pianoand many childish studies. He developed rapidly,and soon began to show little attempts at compo-sition. In a few years Ole Bull, also a native ofBergen, returned on a short visit, and was so struckwith the excellence of these bits that he persuadedGriegs parents to send him to Leipzig. Too eagerwork there resulted in a dangerous inflammationof the diaphragm, and laid the foundation of manylater illnesses, but the young student completedhis course in 1862. He then travelled to Copen-hagen, to gain the acquaintance and guidance ofGade, under whose direction his early works werecomposed. At the same place he met Rikard Noor-draak, who aroused his enthusiasm for the songsand stories of his native land. After spending several years in Copenhagen,Grieg settled in Christiania, where he founded

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