Norwegian Dances IV - ZOMS-A004 | Musica

Strongly influenced by Rikard Nordraak, the composer of the Norwegian national anthem, Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) “came to learn about Norwegian folk tunes and my own countryside”. It was only logical then that he became one of the co-founders of the Euterpe Society that had committed itself to the enhancement of new Scandinavian music. Turning away from German romanticism and turning deliberately to an independent musical tradition of Norway was implied in this move. In the years to come he composed a number of works that were intended as “national music” indeed allowed Grieg himself to advance to be regarded as a national hero. In 1881 he composed his Opus 35 “Norwegian Dances and Folk Tunes” for four-handed piano. These masterful short compositions for piano are among Grieg’s most admired and frequently performed works, also in their orchestrated editions.

The Japanese arranger of this dance, Yuusi Kaneda graduated from the Tokyo Art University, and later studied at the University of Music in Warsaw. Yuusi Kaneda is currently professor at the Okayama University.