Edvard Grieg String Quartet in G minor, Op. 27: I (part 1)

[ugisanu]

this piece is so beautiful and and heartbreaking. I love it.

[pianomansydney]

@hungrykiller666, actually there are many melodies to be whistled in this piece, but it takes maybe a few listenings to really hear them and become familiar with them. We live in a culture of the 4 minute pop song, but wow, how rewarding classical music is when you give it the chance. If you're new to it, then I'm glad you are listening, and I really hope you continue to do so, because it can be fantastic. Happy listening!

[windstorm1000]

I imagine this to be a workout for the players---and keeping the passion going--its in the music, but you know what I mean.

[1violaplayr]

See, I find the movement very exciting until I start paying attention. (Check out 1:06 and realize that there are three pitches in that melody and only two chords for 20 seconds.) At that point, I realize how terribly unimaginative much of the writing is. It's also awkward, at least for the viola (2:56, for example); some of it is unidiomatic and uncomfortable without really sounding very good when it's perfected. Give me Beethoven any day, or Shostakovich, or Schubert, or even Haydn...

[Purebunny29]

@1violaplayr a lot of good music is simple and repetitive though...that's what makes it accessible and memorable (to the average human). Maybe it is our job as performers to make it exciting in spite of these flaws? I think Grieg has a distinctive voice, and can be valued on his own terms.

[windstorm1000]

@1violaplayr At the point you complained about, I think G. was going for a certain country sound there--I'm not a string player so I'm going on feel--what the players enjoy and what the audience enjoys maybe two different things. A piece of music is not just attractive/inventive chords--its also a particular sound/feel--and I'll take Grieg as he has a totally unique sound--cold splashing water--no one else has it.

[1violaplayr]

@windstorm1000 I can't say it's not exciting, even to play, but I have to avoid paying attention to a degree to stay excited. Audiences love it; I just don't care for it musically. I feel the same about a lot of his music - he relies on repetition more than I like, often in lieu of real development or variation (although so does Tchaikovsky in many cases, and I love his music). I suppose in the end there's no accounting for taste.

[hungrykiller666]

i dare you to try whistling this...

[windstorm1000]

@hungrykiller666 A lot of masterworks do not have hummable tunes (ie Mahler, Bruckner, Schoernberg). There are other reasons for listening--chords, rhythym, coloring. Should you care to listen to more music like this with a more open mind you might just enjoy it more.

[offrhode92]

This piece makes me sweat like crazy when I play it and cry like a baby when I listen to it. So unbelievably brilliant.

[glory9835]

holy wow.

i heard this played at stringwood and every time they performed it it gave mre freakin chills. Man this piece is amazing. IDK if anna, christine, nora or alexandra have an account but if you guys see this i want you to know that you were AMAZING. every time CHILLS. SO good.

[dammitkitty]

this is a great one to bond with your quartet members, lots of interaction in this piece.

[punchaloo]

SO HAPPY I GET TO PLAY THIS! hope i get to 1/10th of how good this sounds

[bowmatron]

this is amazing. no wonder norway has such good metal, this is where it all started. lol

[petitequinte]

1. Who is playing this?

2. \m/

[89kamanda]

@petitequinte 0:21 the Olso String Quartet

[cigtt]

i am playing the 1st violin part of this amazing piece in 2 weeks time and listening to this has just made me be a bit scared..... its very very very fast. but amazing. SO EXCITED.

[ImHansHi]

I get goosebumps every time

[LiztheCellist]

Just yesterday I watched/listened to my sister play this. I cannot even fathom conquering the mere syllables that would describe how brilliant this piece is. After they had played Grieg the next ensemble was a Shubert cello quintet. I could barely pay attention for I was still recovering from Grieg.

[GeorgeMaj15]

@LiztheCellist I've played both pieces (viola on the Grieg, Cello on Schubert) and I must say the Grieg carries such a weight and burden. It just sends chills and moves you in a complete opposite way the Schubert Quintet does. I'd swap the concert order. Nothing can follow the Grieg--it's a complete package and a journey. I agree with you--you need a good hour to recover.

[nickmaestro]

Such an awesome quartet, my friends played this last year. They also played my String Quintet in G Minor, which is on my videos. Check it out.

The ensemble that is playing is quite fantastic. Thanks for the upload.

[egalitarianist]

A wonderful performance! I believe this interpretation is closer to what Grieg had in mind than any other I've heard since the Guarneri recording from the 1960's. Floating and flowing as if wind borne, this lets you hear some of what so fascinated and inspired Debussy in writing his own wonderful quartet (in the same key). [note: Part 2 is the ending couple of minutes of this movement, Part 3 is Movement II (the lovely Romance), etc.]