Lyric Pieces

"Lyric Pieces" ( _no. Lyriske stykker) is a collection of 66 short pieces for solo piano written by Edvard Grieg. They were published in 10 volumes, from 1867 (op. 12) to 1901 (op. 71). The collection includes several of his best known pieces, such as "Wedding Day At Troldhaugen" ("Bryllupsdag På Troldhaugen"), "To the Spring" ("Til våren"), "March of the Trolls" ("Troldtog"), and "Butterfly" ("Sommerfugl", "Smetterling").

The theme of the first piece in the set, "Arietta", was one of the composer's favorite melodies. He was so fond of it that he used it to complete the cycle in his very last lyric piece, "Remembrances" ("Efterklang") — this time in waltz form.

In 2002, Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes recorded a CD with 24 of the lyric pieces on Grieg's own 1892 Steinway grand piano at Troldhaugen, the composer's residence. Among other notable pianists to make recordings of the collection are Walter Gieseking, Emil Gilels, Eva Knardahl, and Håkon Austbø. A few recordings and piano rolls of Grieg himself performing also exist, and they have been published by the Norwegian record label Simax.

Complete Listing

Op. 12 (composed 1864-7; published 1867):
* No. 1, "Arietta"
* No. 2, "Vals" (Waltz)
* No. 3, "Vægtersang" (Watchman's song, after "Macbeth")
* No. 4, "Alfedans" (Elves' dance)
* No. 5, "Folkevise" (Popular melody)
* No. 6, "Norsk melodi" (Norwegian melody)
* No. 7, "Albumblad" (Albumleaf)
* No. 8, "Fædrelandssang" (National song)

Op. 38 (composed 1883 except where noted; published 1884):
* No. 1, "Vuggevise" (Lullaby)
* No. 2, "Volkevise" (Popular melody)
* No. 3, "Melodi" (Melody)
* No. 4, "Halling" (Dance)
* No. 5, "Springdans" (Spring dance)
* No. 6, "Elegi" (Elegy)
* No. 7, "Vals" (Waltz, originally composed 1866; revised 1883)
* No. 8, "Kanon" (composed ca. 1877-8)

Op. 43 (composed 1886; published 1887):
* No. 1, "Sommerfugl" (Butterfly)
* No. 2, "Ensom vandrer (Solitary traveller)
* No. 3, "I hjemlandet (In my native country)
* No. 4, "Liten fugl" (Little bird)
* No. 5, "Erotik" (Erotikon)
* No. 6, "Til vaaren (To the spring)

Op. 47 (composed 1886-8; published 1887):
* No. 1, "Valse-Impromptu"
* No. 2, "Albumblad" (Albumleaf)
* No. 3, "Melodi" (Melody)
* No. 4, "Halling"
* No. 5, "Melankoli" (Melancholy)
* No. 6, "Springtanz" (Spring dance)
* No. 7, "Elegi" (Elegy)

Op. 54 (composed 1889-91; published 1891):
* No. 1, "Gjætergut" (Shepherd's boy)
* No. 2, "Gangar" (Norwegian march)
* No. 3, "Troldtog" (March of the trolls)
* No. 4, "Notturno"
* No. 5, "Scherzo"
* No. 6, "Klokkeklang" (Bell ringing)

Op. 57 (composed 1890-3; published 1893):
* No. 1, "Svundne dager" (Vanished days)
* No. 2, "Gade"
* No. 3, "Illusion"
* No. 4, "Geheimniss" (Secret)
* No. 5, "Sie tanzt" (She dances)
* No. 6, "Heimweh" (Homesickness)

Op. 62 (composed 1893-5; published 1895):
* No. 1, "Sylfide" (Sylph)
* No. 2, "Tak" (Gratitude)
* No. 3, "Fransk serenade" (French serenade)
* No. 4, "Bækken" (Brooklet)
* No. 5, "Drømmesyn" (Phantom)
* No. 6, "Drømmesyn" (Homeward)

Op. 65 (composed 1896; published 1897):
* No. 1, "Fra ungdomsdagene" (From early years)
* No. 2, "Bondens sang" (Peasant's song)
* No. 3, "Tungsind" (Melancholy)
* No. 4, "Salon"
* No. 5, "I balladetone" (Ballad)
* No. 6, "Bryllupsdag på Troldhaugen" (Wedding day at Troldhaugen)

Op. 68 (composed 1897-9; published 1899):
* No. 1, "Matrosernes opsang" (Sailor's song)
* No. 2, "Bedstemors menuet" (Grandmother's minuet)
* No. 3, "For dine fødder" (At your feet)
* No. 4, "Aften på højfjeldet" (Evening in the mountains)
* No. 5, "Bådnlåt" (Cradle song)
* No. 6, "Valse mélancolique" (Melancholy waltz)

Op. 71 (composed and published 1901):
* No. 1, "Det var engang" (Once upon a time)
* No. 2, "Someraften" (Summer evening)
* No. 3, "Puck"
* No. 4, "Skovstilhed" (Peace of the woods)
* No. 5, "Halling"
* No. 6, "Forbi" (Gone)
* No. 7, "Efterklang" (Remembrances)

Bibliography

John Horton and Nils Grinde, "Edvard Grieg," "Grove Music Online", ed. L. Macy (accessed 25 May 2008) [http://www.grovemusic.com]