Nathaniel Joseph H.

Ortiz
Piano Literature

Lyric Pieces
Edvard Grieg (1843 – 1907)

1. Op. 12, No. 2 Waltz

1867; dedicated to Betty Egeberg – friendship, influences in Norwegian Music.

Vals – Waltz.
Edvard Grieg was known for his use and development of Norwegian Folk Music in
his own works and brought the music of Norway in the International spectrum.
In the key of A minor, AABA form, this miniature piece describes a Norwegian
Dance, its unique melody and use of appoggiatura. The middle section is in A Major,
the melody transferred in the left hand. The piece was of course went back to A, the
Coda begins in A Major, but the piece ends in A minor.

2. Op. 38, No. 4 Halling

(1884) Interest in Norwegian Music

Norwegischer Tanz – Norwegian Dance.

Bygdedans or village dance is the regional, traditional dance of Norway. In 2/4 time,
walking dance characterized by a sequence of three parts: the figuring part, the free
dancing part (Halling) and the closed hold part (samdans). In the key of G minor, it
used monothematic material through the use of digression of the same theme. It has
a ternary concept of theme in B section. The piece can be challenging because of its
rhythmic pattern and the use of appoggiatura.
 3. Op. 43, No. 1 Butterfly
1886; dedicated to Isidor Seiss – in much influenced by Wagnerian Romanticism

Papillon – Butterfly.
Lyric Pieces are of small scale and modest ambition, which has ensured them a
prominent place in every amateur pianists' repertoire. Yet, their ever-fresh
inspiration, distinct Norwegian flavour, and occasional flashes of virtuosity.
In the key of A Major, a fast and gracious piece best to describe a butterfly. Grieg
involve so much chromaticism in this piece, it has a rich harmony and challenging
rhythmic patterns.

4. Op. 47, No. 2 Album Leaf

1888; dedicated to Elisabeth Hornemann - friendship, influences in Norwegian
Music.

Albumblatt – Album Leaf.

Lyric Pieces are of small scale and modest ambition, which has ensured them a
prominent place in every amateur pianists' repertoire. Yet, their ever-fresh
inspiration, distinct Norwegian flavour, and occasional flashes of virtuosity.
In the key of F Major, Allegro vivace e grazioso, A part is simple but rich in harmony
while the B part is dramatic and more complex, it has a cantabile part which offers
a beautiful melody in the left hand.

5. Op. 54, No. 9 Mach of the Trolls

1891; dedicated to Julius Rontgen - friendship, influences in Norwegian Music.

Marche des nains - March of the Trolls.

Trolls are a constant theme in Norwegian folklore and can be viewed as the
equivalent of our "boogie man." Far to the north in Norway where the winter storms
whip the weather-beaten coasts, you will find dark forests with moonlit lakes, deep
fjords surrounded by mighty snowcapped mountains, and long rivers and cold
streams cascading down the mountain sides. This is where you might find the
irritable, short-tempered trolls coming out of their hiding places after sunset,
marching to wreck havoc on unsuspecting Norwegian households. The piece is in
the key of D minor, a very lyrical middle section in the key of D Major. From single
bass notes to octaves of the left hand, the piece ends in a gigantic and extreme
manner.