EDVARD GRIEG Born in Bergen, Norway on June 15th, 1843

CHILDHOOD, FAMILY AND MUSICAL TRAINING Grieg came from a musical family. His mother was his first piano teacher (he began playing at 6 years old.) At nine, he began composing. He went away to a music conservatory in Leipzig, Germany at the age of 15. He graduated at 19. He married his first cousin, Nina, when he was 24 years old. They had a daughter a year later, who got sick and died at 13 months old.

HOW HE EARNED A LIVING, POPULARITY WITH SOCIETY, INTERESTING FACTS, KINDS OF MUSIC He earned a living as a concert pianist, Music Director for the Bergen Orchestra, conductor and composer. He was very popular in Norway. Much of his music was based on Norwegian folk music. There were 30, ,000 people who attended his funeral. He met and played his piano music for Franz Liszt and Tchaikovsky. They were both impressed! He wrote piano sonatas and concertos as well as concertos for string instruments. He also wrote symphonic dances and songs, too. His most famous pieces were written for a play “Peer Gynt”.

WHEN AND HOW HE DIED He died in autumn of 1907 after a long illness. He was 64 years old. His own funeral march as well as Chopin’s were played at his funeral (per his request). He and his wife’s ashes are entombed in a mountain crypt near his home in Norway.

“MORNING” FROM PEER GYNT This is my favorite because I think it has a pretty melody and I love the nature pictures!