Grieg's Lost Symphony
Donald Macleod introduces the vast array of arrangements of Grieg's music as well as the story of his 'forbidden' symphony of 1864.
Donald Macleod introduces the vast array of arrangements of Grieg's music; plus, the story of Grieg's 'forbidden' symphony of 1864.
Grieg's gift for the fleeting, artful and utterly delightful musical miniature means that he's one of the most rearranged and reimagined composers in history. Instrumentalists of every shade down the years - from trombonists to accordionists, brass bands to hard rock collectives - have sought to cast Grieg's music in their own image. This week, Donald Macleod dips his toe into the vast array of arrangements of Edvard Grieg's music - introducing a selection of brilliant, often unorthodox musical creations - whilst taking us through five key works spanning the composer's career.
The week begins with perhaps the most 'un-Griegian' of musical creations. It comes as a shock to many music-lovers to discover that the young Grieg composed a symphony: one he later marked 'never to be performed'. Donald Macleod explores the story behind this 'forbidden' symphony and why it never came to be heard.
Last on
More episodes
Previous
You are at the first episode
Music Played
![]()
Edvard Grieg
Lyric pieces - book 1 Op.12 for piano - Valse
Performer: Leif Ove Andsnes.- EMI CLASSICS : 72435-5722962.
- EMI CLASSICS.
- 2.
![]()
Edvard Grieg
Symphony in C minor 4th movement; Finale (Allegro molto vivace)
Orchestra: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Ole Kristian Ruud.- BIS : CD-174042.
- BIS.
- 8.
![]()
Edvard Grieg
Symphony in C minor - Allegro Molto
Orchestra: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Ole Kristian Ruud.- BIS : CD-174042.
- BIS.
- 5.
![]()
Edvard Grieg
Lyric pieces - book 1 Op.12 for piano - Fairy Dance
Performer: Berlin Dreiklang Ensemble.- PROFIL PH06017.
- PROFIL.
- 5.
![]()
Edvard Grieg
Lyric pieces - book 1 Op.12 for piano
Performer: Emmanuelle Bertrand. Performer: Pascal Amoyel.- HARMONIA MUNDI : HMC-901962.
- HARMONIA MUNDI.
- 1.
![]()
Edvard Grieg
Sonata no. 1 in F major Op.8 - Allegretto quasi andantino
Performer: Vilde Frang. Performer: michail lifits.- EMI 9476392.
- EMI Classics.
- 2.
![]()
Edvard Grieg
Hjertets melodier Op.5 Two Brown Eyes; I Love Thee
Singer: Anne Sofie von Otter. Performer: Bengt Forsberg.- Deutsche Grammophon 477 632 6.
- Deutsche Grammophon.
- 24.
![]()
Edvard Grieg
Lyric pieces - book 1 Op.12 - Norwegian Melody
Performer: Mie Miki.- BIS : CD-1629.
- BIS.
- 2.
![]()
Edvard Grieg
2 Symphonic pieces Op.14 for piano duet, arr. from 2 movements from "Symphony"
Performer: Vilija Poskute. Performer: Thomas Daukantas.- ARS 38 131.
- ARS.
- 6.
Broadcasts
- Mon 12 May 201412:00BBC Radio 3
- Mon 12 May 201418:30BBC Radio 3
Beethoven Unleashed – the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod’s best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time – why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.
