Composer Edvard Grieg, the icon of Norwegian music,
left his home in Bergen, Norway to study at the
conservatory in Leipzig. There he began his formal
musical education under the auspices of Ignaz Moscheles
(piano) and Carl Reinecke (composition). While in
school, the young composer saw the premiere of his
first work, his String Quartet in D minor, performed in
Karlshamn, Sweden. Despite being diagnosed with a form
of tuberculosis, which left him with only one
functioning lung, Grieg graduated f...(+)
Composer Edvard Grieg, the icon of Norwegian music,
left his home in Bergen, Norway to study at the
conservatory in Leipzig. There he began his formal
musical education under the auspices of Ignaz Moscheles
(piano) and Carl Reinecke (composition). While in
school, the young composer saw the premiere of his
first work, his String Quartet in D minor, performed in
Karlshamn, Sweden. Despite being diagnosed with a form
of tuberculosis, which left him with only one
functioning lung, Grieg graduated from the conservatory
in 1862. The composer had an intense desire to develop
a national style of composition, but recognized the
importance of becoming well versed in the work of the
European masters, and consequently relocated to
Copenhagen, studying with Niels Gade. He was thus able
to remain in Scandanavia, while working in a thriving
cultural center. In 1867 against his family's better
judgment, Grieg married his cousin Nina Hagerup, a
talented pianist, but whose vocal abilities enchanted
the composer even more. Shortly after their wedding,
the couple moved to Oslo, where Grieg supported them by
teaching piano and conducting. He and his wife traveled
extensively throughout Europe and it was during a
period of time spent in Denmark, the composer wrote his
landmark opus, the Piano Concerto in A minor. The
premiere was given in 1869, with Edmund Neupert as the
soloist. The piece was received with an enthusiasm that
would attach itself to the composer's reputation for
the remainder of his career.
In the period between 1877 - 1880, Grieg produced a set
of songs as his Op. 33 on texts by a man some called
the peasant-poet of Norway, Aasmund Vinje (1818 -
1870). The composer had been greatly inspired by the
then-late poet's verses, so much so that after
completing the set, he decided to arrange two of its
songs for string orchestra, this one The Last Spring
and The Wounded Heart. He made piano versions of them
as well. The Last Spring is a sad piece, but sad in the
heart-on-sleeve sense of Tchaikovsky, not in the dark,
neurotic manner of Mahler. In the song version, the
text tells of a dying man who is aware he is observing
his last spring. The main theme in the instrumental
versions is nostalgic and features considerable
expressive depth, especially considering Grieg's
penchant for lightness of mood even in melancholy
works. It has an air of resignation about it, but as it
struggles on, its manner sweetens a bit, nearly
suggesting hope. Still, these brighter moments are only
fleeting, as the music remains largely dark and
anguished. The piano version is perhaps a bit bleaker,
but also less lyrical than the warmer string orchestra
account.
Source: AllMusic
(https://www.allmusic.com/composition/elegiac-melodies-
2-for-orchestra-or-piano-op-34-mc0002358507 )
Although originally created for String Orchestra, I
created this Interpretation of the "The Last Spring"
from Two Elegiac Melodies (Opus 34 No 2) for Winds
(Flute, Oboe, Bb Clarinet, French Horn & Bassoon) &
Strings (2 Violins, Viola & Cello).
