RomanticEdvard Grieg
Edvard Grieg was born in Bergen, Norway, a country of mountains and fjords.
Edvard Grieg’s life
The big moments of this life, and what was happening in the world at the same time.
A life at a glance
- 1843👶 Birth
Born in Bergen on 15 June; his pianist mother teaches him music
- 1858📚 Trainingage 15
On the violinist Ole Bull’s advice, studies at the Leipzig Conservatory
- 1867❤️ Private lifeage 24
Marries his cousin, the singer Nina Hagerup; first book of Lyric Pieces
- 1868🎼 Workage 25
Piano Concerto in A minor
- 1870🧳 Journeyage 27
In Rome, Liszt sight-reads his concerto and encourages him
- 1874🌍 Meanwhile
First exhibition of the Impressionist painters
- 1875🌍 Meanwhile
The Palais Garnier opera house opens in Paris
- 1876🎼 Workage 33
Premiere of Peer Gynt, music for Ibsen’s play
- 1884🎼 Workage 41
Holberg Suite
- 1889🌍 Meanwhile
The Eiffel Tower opens for the World’s Fair
- 1903🏛️ Landmarkage 60
Records his own pieces on disc in Paris
- 1903🌍 Meanwhile
First powered aeroplane flight (Wright brothers)
- 1907🕯️ Deathage 64
Dies in Bergen on 4 September
Listen to the music
Press the big button to listen. Close your eyes: how does it make you feel?
How does this music feel to you?
How does this music feel to you?
How does this music feel to you?
Excerpts of up to 90 seconds, freely licensed recordings from Wikimedia Commons.
Once upon a time…
Edvard Grieg was born in Bergen, Norway, a country of mountains and fjords. His mum was a pianist and taught him music. He was small and often ill, but full of imagination!
He loved the folk music of his country and used it in his compositions. A great writer asked him for music for a play, Peer Gynt. Grieg wrote In the Hall of the Mountain King: the trolls wake up and the music gets faster and faster!
He also composed a very famous piano concerto. He lived in a house called “Troll Hill” and composed in a little hut by the water.
He always carried a little lucky frog in his pocket before concerts.
Edvard Grieg’s instruments
Tap an instrument to hear it!
Cards to flip
Are you an expert on Edvard Grieg?
Answer the questions and win stars!
Same era · Romantic
1833 – 1887RomanticAlexandre Borodine
Alexander Borodin was born in St Petersburg, Russia.
1833 – 1897RomanticJohannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms was born in Hamburg, a big port in Germany.
1838 – 1875RomanticGeorges Bizet
Georges Bizet was born in Paris into a family of musicians.
1839 – 1881RomanticModeste Moussorgski
Modest Mussorgsky was born in the Russian countryside.
1840 – 1893RomanticPiotr Ilitch Tchaïkovski
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was born in Russia, near the Ural Mountains.
1841 – 1904RomanticAntonín Dvořák
Antonín Dvořák was born in a Bohemian village by a river.