Grieg Lyric Suite - March of the Dwarfs LPO Malcolm Sargent

[UrogHai]

The correct spelling is really 'dwarfs'. 'Dwarves' comes from Tolkien - he applies the elf-elves (similar to, though different from: wife-wives, knife-knives, life-lives) paradigm to 'dwarf'. Of course, this doesn't really make that much sense, as 'dwarf' is of a rather different form.

[egalitarianist]

I believe Grieg would have wanted the term to remain "trolls". Both terms can mean small (a troll can also turn giant) menacing supernatural ugly humanoids who live underground or in caves. "Troll" is strictly from Scandinavian mythology, but "dwarf" can also just mean a small person - often disparagingly. Grieg strongly objected to the demeaning or mistreatment of minorities (eg the Dreyfuss affair). (Grieg himself was barely 5 ft and under 100 lbs.)

[conradin1000]

@egalitarianist THANK YOU!!!

I love Grieg's music, but I've always found this piece quite shocking, because I thought he was poking fun at small people. It's so good to know he was portraying trolls. Also I'm interested to know that, like Zola, he was a supporter of Dreyfuss. You have totally restored my respect for this excellent composer!

[Matsulf]

It's spelled "Dwarves", prove me wrong?

[A60stock]

Sorry but according to the Gramophone catalogue  which is a pretty authoritve tome it is spelt " Dwarfs".

[Vanamutt]

Dwarfs is the term applied to multiple humans that are dwarfed, Dwarves is used by many fantasy writers. it is correct to write both ways.

[Dooooooom666]

I've seen this called 'March of the Trolls' and 'March of the Dwarfs', so, I'm rather confused... Does anyone know the original name?

[cchamp27]

I checked, and the original Norwegian is "Trolltrog". I guess the discrepancy is with the cognate "troll", perhaps this cognate is not 100% parallel to the English word "troll" because its meaning has slightly shifted through history, so that some translators choose "dwarf" instead for maybe a more accurate depiction of the word in its Norwegian context

[cchamp27]

I also just looked at the German translation for maybe another hint. The Germans have a true cognate with the English "Troll". The German title is "Zug der Zwerge", and Zwerg would equal dwarf in English.

[A60stock]

I think I can shed light on the confusion. March of the Trolls (Troldtog) is one of the Lyric Pieces from Grieg's Book 5 for piano Op54 (1891). By the time Grieg came to orchestrate the movement in 1904 the translation had changed to The March of the Dwarfs. It would suggest that cchamp27 is on the right track.

[Dooooooom666]

Okay, that makes sense... Thank you!

[Browniesisgood]

Its "March of the dwarves" :)

Sorry im 1 year late xD