Music Matters

15 October 2006

Sunday 15 October 2006 17:45-18:30 (Radio 3)

Tom Service investigates the relationship between the music of Grieg and the landscape of his native Norway, and how the composer's time in England had a far greater influence on his life than previously thought.

Pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard talks about his life in music as his latest CD of Schumann is released.

Plus news of the UK's first ever Bachelor of Music degree in Indian classical music.

Duration:

45 minutes

In This Programme

Edvard Grieg
Two new books on the life of Edvard Grieg have inspired Tom to travel to the composer's homeland, Norway, and to find out about his many visits to Britain.

Starting in London, Tom is accompanied by the author, Lionel Carley, as they head to the location of Grieg's final stay in the capital, a distinguished address in Mayfair. After learning about Grieg's concert life in Britain, Tom flies to Bergen in Norway to see just what inspired the composer to write his music. Here his guide is Daniel Grimley, whose own book on the composer explores the impact of folk music, landscape and Norwegian identity on Grieg's compositions.

Looking out across the spectacular scenery of the rugged Scandinavian West coast, Tom begins to understand the creative impulses Grieg must have felt while he lived there. In Grieg's house, Troldhaugen (Troll Mountain) Daniel Grimley performs on Grieg's own piano and the importance of folk music to the composer is revealed by the Hardanger fiddle player, Synnove Bjorset.

Finally, a trip to Grieg's elemental resting place, blasted into the side of a cliff-face - the ultimate powerful symbol of his close affinity with nature.

Lionel Carley: Edvard Grieg in London. Pub. Boydell and Brewer. £30
Daniel Grimley: Grieg - Music, Landscape and Norwegian Identity. Pub. Boydell and Brewer. £45

Pierre Laurent Aimard
The pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard is known for his performances of contemporary piano music. Not surprising given his distinguished pedigree, studying with Messiaen as a teenager, selected at the age of 19 by Pierre Boulez to be the pianist of his Ensemble Intercontemporain, and performer of choice for Gyorgy Ligeti. Nonetheless, his more recent recordings explore different repertoire: Schumann, Beethoven and Mozart. Tom finds out how Aimard approaches this huge range of music, and about what it is that connects the old and the new.

Aimard's new Schumann disc is available on the Warner Classics label.

Indian Classical Music
The first degree course devoted to Indian classical traditions has just opened its doors to students at the Bhavan centre in London, in affiliation with Trinity College of Music. Tom talks with teachers and students at the Bhavan about Indian music and British culture, and how the course hopes to train a generation of musicians equipped not just in the traditions of North and South Indian classical music, but contemporary fusion and popular cultures as well.

For more information about the course: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan

Music Matters

Episode and Playlist Information

• 22 Oct 06
• 15 Oct 06
• 8 Oct 06 Deborah Warner
• 1 October 2006
• 24 Sep 06 Steve Reich at 70
• 10 Sept 06
• 9 July 2006

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