Peer Gynt Suite
Peer Gynt is the incidental music to Henrik Ibsen's 1867 play of the same name, written by the Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg in 1875. It premiered along with the play on 24 February 1876 in Christiania (now Oslo).
Later, in 1888 and 1891, Grieg extracted eight movements to make two four-movement suites: Suite No. 1, Op. 46, and Suite No. 2, Op. 55.
Suite No. 1, consists of 4 movements, Morning, The Death of Åse,
Anitra's Dance and In the Hall of the Mountain King. The late 18 hundreds is the 19th Century, the Romantic era.
Music of the Romantic Era
In general Romantic music is more emotional, colourful and
dramatic than the music of previous eras. Romantic doesn’t mean “love”. It is more associated with artist’s state of mind, expression of emotion……all emotions, not just love. This spirit of expression is the kernel of Romanticism.
Large Orchestra Very big when compared to Classical music. Each section was larger. (It’s assumed you know the sections of the orchestra!!) Instruments were of superior quality. Brass and percussion sections featured.
Programme Music; This is one of the strongest features of the Romantic era, where the composer paints a picture, tells a story, or creates a mood through music.
Dynamics; are extreme and serve the purposes of the mood rather than being solely for contrast.
Later, in 1888 and 1891, Grieg extracted eight movements to make two four-movement suites: Suite No. 1, Op. 46, and Suite No. 2, Op. 55.
Suite No. 1, consists of 4 movements, Morning, The Death of Åse,
Anitra's Dance and In the Hall of the Mountain King. The late 18 hundreds is the 19th Century, the Romantic era.
Music of the Romantic Era
In general Romantic music is more emotional, colourful and
dramatic than the music of previous eras. Romantic doesn’t mean “love”. It is more associated with artist’s state of mind, expression of emotion……all emotions, not just love. This spirit of expression is the kernel of Romanticism.
Large Orchestra Very big when compared to Classical music. Each section was larger. (It’s assumed you know the sections of the orchestra!!) Instruments were of superior quality. Brass and percussion sections featured.
Programme Music; This is one of the strongest features of the Romantic era, where the composer paints a picture, tells a story, or creates a mood through music.
Dynamics; are extreme and serve the purposes of the mood rather than being solely for contrast.
Morning
The mood of this movment is gentle it gradually awakens and the rising sun is suggested. The Flute and the Oboe sing to each other like two morning birds. As the pitch and dynamics rise, the Violins play this same melody. French Horns take this main melody towards the end before Flute and Bassoon bring the movement to a peaceful and calm close.
Form - ternary form (ABA). 3 sections followed by a coda ("tail piece")
Metre - 2. time signature is 6/8
Melodic feature - main melody based on the doh triad so it could be described as chordal or triadic. (s m r d r m s m r d r m )
Tempo - Allegretto pastorale. Lively peaceful.
Dynamics - lots of variety, typical of the Romantic era.
Tonality - E major (4 sharps)
Metre - 2. time signature is 6/8
Melodic feature - main melody based on the doh triad so it could be described as chordal or triadic. (s m r d r m s m r d r m )
Tempo - Allegretto pastorale. Lively peaceful.
Dynamics - lots of variety, typical of the Romantic era.
Tonality - E major (4 sharps)
Anitra's Dance
Form - ternary form (ABA).
Metre - 3. time signature is 3/4
Melodic feature - loads of ornamentation, trills (tr)
Tempo - Tempo di mazurka
Dynamics - mostly quiet.
Tonality - A minor. (no sharps) starts on a chord of E major.
Articulation - loads of staccato
Metre - 3. time signature is 3/4
Melodic feature - loads of ornamentation, trills (tr)
Tempo - Tempo di mazurka
Dynamics - mostly quiet.
Tonality - A minor. (no sharps) starts on a chord of E major.
Articulation - loads of staccato
In the hall of the mountain king
This movement a melodic ostinato, i.e. the same melody is repeated over and over. (An ostinato is a repeated musical idea)
It begins slowly, at a low pitch featuring Bassoons and Double Basses and Celli. Observe the plucking of strings (pizzicato) and later bowing (arco). As the higher pitched instruments join in it bcomes gradually faster (accelerando) and gradually louder (crescendo). The articulation is always staccato (detached or "hop"). It builds up to a big climax with full orchestra featured.
This movement a melodic ostinato, i.e. the same melody is repeated over and over. (An ostinato is a repeated musical idea)
It begins slowly, at a low pitch featuring Bassoons and Double Basses and Celli. Observe the plucking of strings (pizzicato) and later bowing (arco). As the higher pitched instruments join in it bcomes gradually faster (accelerando) and gradually louder (crescendo). The articulation is always staccato (detached or "hop"). It builds up to a big climax with full orchestra featured.