By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Sign In

Sevenov

All about classic books

Notification Show More
Latest News
Agnes Grey Quotes by Anne Brontë
39 Best Agnes Grey Quotes
August 2, 2022
Wuthering Heights Quotes by Emily Brontë
36 Best Wuthering Heights Quotes
August 1, 2022
Earl Derr Biggers photograph
Earl Derr Biggers
June 21, 2022
Carolyn Wells photograph
Carolyn Wells
June 19, 2022
The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde
The Happy Prince
June 17, 2022
Aa
  • Fiction
    • Adventure
    • Coming-of-age
    • Drama
    • Fantasy
    • Gothic
    • Historical
    • Realistic
    • Romance
    • Short Stories Collection
    • Tragedy
  • Non-fiction
  • Plays
    • Comedy
    • Historical
    • Political Fiction
    • Realistic
  • Poetry
  • Author
  • People
  • Blog
Reading: Edvard Grieg’s Peer Gynt Music – An Enduring Masterpiece
Share

Sevenov

All about classic books

Aa
  • Fiction
  • Non-fiction
  • Plays
  • Poetry
  • Author
  • People
  • Blog
Search
  • Fiction
    • Adventure
    • Coming-of-age
    • Drama
    • Fantasy
    • Gothic
    • Historical
    • Realistic
    • Romance
    • Short Stories Collection
    • Tragedy
  • Non-fiction
  • Plays
    • Comedy
    • Historical
    • Political Fiction
    • Realistic
  • Poetry
  • Author
  • People
  • Blog
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2022 Sevenov. All Rights Reserved.
Sevenov > Blog > Blog > Edvard Grieg’s Peer Gynt Music – An Enduring Masterpiece
Blog

Edvard Grieg’s Peer Gynt Music – An Enduring Masterpiece

Sevenov
Sevenov June 13, 2022
Updated 2022/09/08 at 12:43 PM
Share
6 Min Read
SHARE
Edvard Grieg Peer Gynt Music

Edvard Grieg’s Peer Gynt Music – An Enduring Masterpiece

You may have never heard of Edvard Grieg or Henrik Ibsen, but you have definitely listened to the music the former composed for the latter’s 1867 verse play, Peer Gynt. The titular protagonist is a Norwegian peasant who lives a life of procrastination and avoidance. Despite going on an adventure, he is unable to find meaning in his life. Ibsen did not intend for Peer Gynt to be performed at first but later approached his friend Grieg to compose incidental music for the play. 

Edvard Grieg portrait 1891
Edvard Grieg’s portrait (1891)

The composition was no easy feat, given the play’s length. Grieg wrote, “Peer Gynt progresses slowly, and there is no possibility of having it finished by autumn. It is a terribly unmanageable subject.” Nevertheless, the 90-minute score he composed for the play was a triumphant success. Grieg later extracted two suites of four pieces each from the score. Several pieces within these two suites have since trickled into popular culture, appearing in movie soundtracks, video games, television series, and more. 

Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46

In the Hall of the Mountain King

This song is played as the protagonist, Peer, encounters the troll king in a dream. He had been brought there by the troll princess, who wished to marry him. When the troll king asks about the difference between humans and trolls, an old man answers that humans believe in the motto, “to thyself be true,” whereas trolls say, “to thyself be enough.” 

Grieg explained, “For the Hall of the Mountain King I have written something that so reeks of cowpats, ultra-Norwegianism, and ‘to-thyself-be-enough-ness’ that I can’t bear to hear it, though I hope that the irony will make itself felt.”

“In the Hall of the Mountain King” was famously used as the leitmotif of the serial killer Hans Beckert in Fritz Lang’s 1931 film M. Beckert whistles the song whenever he feels the urge to murder children. 

It was also part of the opening theme for the 1993 animated TV series Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog. More recently, the song appeared in the Netflix series, Trollhunters, where it plays during fight scenes featuring the antagonist, Zelda Nomura. 

1936 edition Peer Gynt by Henrik Ibsen - Peer before the King of Trolls illustrated by Arthur Rackham
1936 edition Peer Gynt by Henrik Ibsen – Peer before the King of Trolls illustrated by Arthur Rackham
Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46, In The Hall of The Mountain King

Anitra’s Dance

Grieg wrote this song for a scene in Act IV of Peer Gynt. Anitra is the daughter of a Bedouin chieftain who Peer is enamored with. However, she steals his money when he tries to woo her. “Anitra’s Dance” features the triangle and plucked notes in the strings. In the 2016 video game, The Witness, the song was played as background music during “The Challenge,” an optional timed puzzle. 

1936 edition Peer Gynt by Henrik Ibsen - Anitra's Dance illustrated by Arthur Rackham
1936 edition Peer Gynt by Henrik Ibsen – Anitra’s Dance illustrated by Arthur Rackham
Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46, Anitra’s Dance

Morning Mood

“Morning Mood” was composed to depict the sun rising over the Sahara desert in Act IV of Peer Gynt. At this point, Peer has been abandoned in the desert after his companions took his yacht and sailed away. 

The song has become associated with a peaceful morning scene, though its origins as a piece meant to evoke a desert scene are less well-known. The Simpsons used it for a morning establishment shot in a sequence where a burger unwraps in the sunlight. Additionally, Morning mood was the opening theme of the 2007 video game Peggle, released by PopCap Games.

Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46, Morning Mood

Death of Ase

“Death of Ase” is a slow, haunting song that features the euphonium, horn, and flugelhorn. Ase is Peer’s mother, and this song plays when she is about to die. On her deathbed, Ase forgives Peer for all his wrongs, and Peer tries to comfort her by talking about casual matters. “Death of Ase” is a slow, haunting song that features the euphonium, horn, and flugelhorn. 

1936 edition Peer Gynt by Henrik Ibsen - The Death of Aase illustrated by Arthur Rackham
1936 edition Peer Gynt by Henrik Ibsen – The Death of Aase illustrated by Arthur Rackham
Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46, The Death of Ase

Since Ibsen’s time, Peer Gynt has become a key icon of Norwegian culture. Grieg’s music for the play has also claimed a place among the most loved classical pieces. For a lackadaisical Norwegian peasant, Peer has had a great impact on the world stage. 

You Might Also Like

A Bewitched Place

The Lost Letter: A Tale Told by the Sexton of the N…Church

Arabesques

Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka

The Gamblers

Sign Up For Sevenov Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Sevenov June 13, 2022
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Copy Link Print
Share
What do you think?
Love1
Sad0
Happy1
Sleepy0
Angry0
Dead0
Wink0
Previous Article Suzannah Ibsen photograph Suzannah Ibsen
Next Article Anna Sewell portrait Anna Sewell

You Might also Like

A Bewitched Place by Nikolai Gogol

A Bewitched Place

June 15, 2022
The Lost Letter: A Tale Told by the Sexton of the N...Church by Nikolai Gogol

The Lost Letter: A Tale Told by the Sexton of the N…Church

June 15, 2022
Arabesques by Nikolai Gogol

Arabesques

June 15, 2022
Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka by Nikolai Gogol

Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka

June 15, 2022

FOXIZ

Subscribe Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

Find Us on Socials

  • About
  • Contact
  • Terms Of Use 
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 Sevenov. All Rights Reserved.

Go to mobile version
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?