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TWO SISTERS - MUSIC & LOVE No.20/12.09
- victorshramko
- Sep 12
- 4 min read
I believe MUSIC and LOVE are sisters. Why? When we fall in love, we really want to announce our happiness to the whole world. But how to let strangers into the secrets of LOVE? We can only do this through MUSIC. And on the other hand, when you finally get through the jungle of thousands of dots of musical notation, how to breathe spirit into it and give it wings to fly? This is only possible through LOVE.
Be Happy Forever
Recently, two people for whom I have really friendly feelings got married. Far from homes, friends. Determination was stronger than the difficulties. I wholeheartedly wish them happiness, wisdom, and joy – the most important thing. (I've got some experience: 55th wedding anniversary!)
I was looking for a happy love story among famous composers. Not an easy task, because most great creators must also be great egoists. Consciously or not, they generally have to concentrate entirely on themselves and their work. And this overshadows the closest to them. Sometimes it's mutually painful. There are no rules without exceptions. Everything is possible. I found the story close to my heart.
They Chose the Fjords
Norway's national composer, considered as one of the leading Romantics, Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) comes from a Scottish family which settled in Bergen decades ago. His grandpa, Alex Greig, prospered, acquired a fishing fleet, twice married Norwegian girls, and became British consul. He changed the family name to Grieg, easier for Norwegians.
The boy was raised in a musical family. His mother, a pianist, started teaching him piano at the age of 6. In 1858, their cousin, the renowned violinist, Ole Bull, was so impressed with the boy's talent that he advised sending him to the Leipzig Conservatory. After 4 years, Edvard graduated as one of the most outstanding students. He also found teaching there pedantic and dull: I must admit, that I left Conservatory just as stupid as I entered it. Naturally, I did learn something there, but my individuality was still a closed book for me.'
Geyser of Feelings
The eighteen-year-old made his pianistic debut in Sweden and then went for 3 years to Denmark. There, thanks to his Scandinavian friends, he came to appreciate the peasant songs and dances of his native land. In Copenhagen, he also met his cousin, soprano singer, Nina Hagerup. He fell madly in love with her and they married there on June 11, 1867. He began writing songs for her. For nearly 40 years they were to travel throughout Europe giving innumerable recitals. They even performed both at a private concert at Windsor Castle for Queen Victoria.
The following year after the wedding, apparently 'on the wings of love', he wrote his most popular piece: Piano Concerto in A minor. It's an apotheosis of love. But not dark and stuffy, but bright, full of light, joy, happiness.
Perhaps impressed by this Concerto, the genius of the piano, Franz Liszt, petitioned the Norwegian government for a travel grant to Rome. There both musicians met for the first time. At the second meeting, Liszt proceeded to sightread that Concerto. His rendition greatly impressed the audience, although Grieg said gently to him that he... 'played too quickly' [sic!]
In the Heart, not on the Stage
The 19th century saw a growing desire for national identification. Composers were expected to write national operas. Yes, friends insisted on it for Chopin, too. The same was expected of Grieg, too. He even started writing an opera about King Olaf but abandoned the project.
Instead, he was inspired by the play Peer Gynt by his compatriot, playwright Henrik Ibsen. The author asked Grieg to compose the music. He wrote 22 pieces, but not to the text but inspired by it. He later selected the best of them and combined them into two symphonic suites, which soon surpassed the theatre play in popularity. This is how one of his greatest hits was created.
However, he composed a lot of songs with lyrics by the greatest: Heine, Goethe, Andersen, Ibsen, Kipling. But it was for his wife, Nina, the love of his life.
Great in Spirit and Heart
He also met with P. Tchaikovsky, who thought very highly of Grieg's music, praising its beauty, originality, and warmth. He described his colleague as: a man of uncommon charm, blue eyes, not very large, but irresistibly fascinating!' Well, looking through pages of the history of music, it seems that most of the composers we remember look more impressive on monuments than they did in reality. The dimensions of greatness are different. Not the size of the stature or the works but the quality of values.
Grieg became the Norwegian National Composer, obtained Honorary Doctorates from Cambridge and Oxford, the French Legion of Honour, and finally got from the Royal government the lifelong pension that freed the composer from financial problems. And in history, he is called: 'Chopin of the North'. When he passed away, 30,000-40,000 people said goodbye to him in Oslo.
[His Piano Concerto was the first ever recorded Concerto in history (while still on music rolls). I love this Concerto because I've played it so many times with symphonic orchestras. Being in love too.]
VIKTOR & PATRICIA - A LOT OF HAPPINESS!!!
Enough words. Let us play: YouTube. Wedding Day at Troldhaugen (Trolls' Hill; it was the settlement of the Happy Couple) and – Piano Concerto in A minor op. 16.
Enough words.
Let us play: E. Grieg - Wedding Day at Troldhaugen
(Trolls' Hill; it was the settlement of the Happy Couple)
E. Grieg - Piano Concerto in A minor op.16
Written by
Cezary Owerkowicz
Co-founder of Kuwait Music Academy and
Director of Treasure of Talents Festival in Kuwait
