Edvard Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite no.1 Op.46

Peer Gynt Suite no. 1, Op. 46 is a suite composed by Edvard Grieg, based on the play "Peer Gynt" by Henrik Ibsen. Originally, Grieg composed incidental music for the play in 1875. Later, he compiled two suites from the music, selecting some of the most popular and memorable pieces. Peer Gynt Suite no. 1, Op. 46 is the first of these and contains four well-known movements, each reflecting key moments from the play. 1. Morning Mood The first movement, "Morning Mood", is a serene and lyrical piece, representing the calm and peaceful feeling of dawn. While it is often associated with a generic peaceful morning scene, it was originally intended to depict Peer Gynt witnessing the sunrise in the Sahara Desert. The gentle melody, played by flutes and oboes, gradually builds as the sun rises, with the music evoking a sense of nature awakening. 2. The Death of Åse The second movement, "The Death of Åse", is a deeply emotional and tragic piece, written to accompany the scene where Åse, Peer Gynt’s mother, is dying. The sorrowful and melancholic string lines convey the grief and despair of this moment, reflecting Peer's helplessness as he watches his mother pass away. 3. Anitra's Dance The third movement, "Anitra's Dance", is light and playful, representing Anitra, a beautiful woman Peer Gynt encounters during his travels in the Middle East. The dance is rhythmically vibrant and exotic, utilizing plucked strings to give a distinctive sound that suggests the charm and allure of Anitra as she dances. The piece has a sense of elegance and flirtation. 4. In the Hall of the Mountain King The final movement, "In the Hall of the Mountain King", is one of the most famous pieces of classical music. It depicts Peer Gynt’s encounter with the trolls and the Mountain King in the troll king’s grand hall. The piece starts softly and slowly, then gradually increases in tempo and intensity, building a sense of impending danger and chaos. The repetition of the theme, with the growing tension, creates a feeling of menace as Peer Gynt faces danger in the troll world. Each of these four pieces captures a different mood and moment from the play, reflecting Peer Gynt’s adventures, emotions, and the people he meets. Peer Gynt Suite no. 1, Op. 46 is one of Grieg's most celebrated works and is frequently performed on its own, apart from the context of the play, due to its evocative and memorable melodies.