As the end of the 19th century approaches, there is political upheaval across Europe. In 1877 in Norway, Edward Grieg writes a String Quartet in G minor Op.27.
This is one of his very few pieces of chamber music, having composed this, three Violin Sonatas, a ‘Cello Sonata, and a few other fragments.
The melody for his String Quartet is taken from the first song in his Op.25 collection of songs by Henrik Ibsen, titled Spillemænd, meaning ‘minstrels’. It is a Norwegian tale about a musician who is entrusted by a water-sprite with greatly expressive qualities, eventually settling the debt by forfeiting his own happiness.
Spillemænd’, No.1 from Sex digte af Henrik Ibsen Op.25 – Edvard Grieg (1843 – 1907), composed in 1877
Now listen to the Quartet and see if you can see how he treats this melody, and compared with the String Quartet by Teresa Carreño.
The writing involves a great deal of double and triple stopping, where the sound is rich and a real workout for the performers.
Grieg uses a cyclical approach, where opening material and other fragments of melodies from other movements come together to create the last moments of the finale.
