Edvard Grieg: The Choral Music / Edition 1

by Beryl Foster

Overview

Edvard Grieg’s choral music has remained little known outside Scandinavia. One of the chief aims of this book is to bring this body of work to the notice of a wider audience, in the hope that it may receive greater prominence in concert programmes. Choral pieces form a relatively small proportion of Grieg’s total output, although works such as the Album for Male Voices and the Four Psalms represent significant developments in his compositional career. In this study Beryl Foster not only provides an in-depth examination of this music, but also presents a picture of Norwegian musical life in the second half of the nineteenth century. An overview of Norway’s choral tradition from the Middle Ages provides the historical context from which Grieg came to the genre. Subsequent chapters discuss in detail the types of choral works that he wrote, such as occasional and commemorative pieces, dramatic works and solo song arrangements. A set of useful appendices, including a chronological list of works and a discography complete this original survey.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781840142716
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	10/22/1999
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.44(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Beryl Foster

Table of Contents

Contents: The Choral Music Tradition in Norway; The Early Works; Occasional Works; Commemorative Pieces; Album for Male Voices, op. 30; Dramatic works; Later Works and Choral Arrangements; The Four Psalms, op. 74; Appendix A: Choral Works in Chronological Order of Composition; Appendix B: Personalia; Select Bibliography; Discography; General Index; Index of Choral Works.

Editorial Reviews

Foster, who specializes in the performance of Norwegian art songs, brings Grieg's little-known choral music to the notice of the wider audience outside Norway. She not only examines this music, but also presents a picture of Norwegian social life in the second half of the 19th century. An overview of Norway's choral tradition from the Middle Ages provides the historical context from which Grieg came to the genre. Subsequent chapters discuss the types of choral works which he wrote, such as occasional and commemoratie pieces, dramatic works, and solo song arrangements. Contains a chronological list of works and a discography. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

’I am impressed by how well you [Beryl Foster] write. You truly have included all the essentials about the choral music and in an elegant way have intertwined biographical information in a vivid account of the separate works. With your two books on Grieg’s songs and choral music you stand out now as THE Grieg specialist in Great Britain. I congratulate you most sincerely!’ Professor Finn Benestad.

From the Publisher