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Edvard Grieg was the father of Norwegian music; his most famous pieces are the Piano Concerto in A Minor and the incidental music to Peer Gynt. Sent to study at the conservatory of Leipzig during his teens, his compositions show a thorough grounding in the European Romantic tradition, although his later works explore the idea of a national Norwegian style.

His chamber music showcases the way in which he actively sought to weave the characteristics of Norwegian popular music into accepted compositional forms and styles. Grieg himself said of the violin sonatas: ‘They are representative of the three periods of my evolution: the first naïve and full of melodic ideas, the second nationalistic, and the third turning to much vaster horizons.’ The quartet in G Minor initially proved a problem for the composer, but it is nonetheless a triumph, brimming with impressive moments such as the beauty of the pastoral reverie and the relentless rhythm of the energetic finale. The collection also includes the Cello Concerto in A Minor – written for Grieg’s brother John, an amateur cellist – the String Quartet No.2 in F and the Andante con moto for piano trio.

The recording boasts a wealth of renowned chamber musicians; among them are the Moscow Trio, an ensemble that has achieved great success in Europe. Also featured are acclaimed performers such as Alexander Vinnitsky, Vladimir Ovchinnikov and Alexander Rudin.

Although famous for his evergreen Piano Concerto and the music he composed for Ibsen’s Peer Gynt, Grieg’s output is dominated by short works – exquisite miniatures for piano and song. In the pantheon of composers influenced by the traditional music of their homeland, Grieg ranks along side Dvorak, Kodály, Bartok and Vaughan Williams. All in their own way ‘saved’ for posterity the rich legacy of music passed down through generations of their countrymen. Grieg ensured that the folk tunes of Norway had a new lease of life when set to words by Ibsen, Benzon, Krag and Varen, and others.

These are not songs as Schubert or Wolf would have composed. They are simple, folk-based, honest and true, and display the true genius of the composer as a miniaturist. If ever the saying ‘small is beautiful’ applies, it is to these songs. After settling down with his wife (also his cousin) Nina Hagerup – the inspiration for many of his songs – he concentrated on establishing a Norwegian National School of music.

This 7CD set is the only complete edition of the songs

Recordings date from the early 1990s

Many songs receiving their first recording

‘The Grieg song edition continues rather as it began – with many causes for gratitude, a few occasions for quite intense pleasure…In expression she (Hirsti) is similar to Flagstad, warm in feeling, and letting the affection communicate almost of its own accord…Christa Pfeiler sings with pleasing tone and …Voice and piano are well…Rudolf Jansen is a sensitive and skilful accompanist throughout’ Gramophone

Most (amateur) pianists can not avoid playing them sooner or later: lyrical pieces by Grieg. The composer wrote no less than 10 books of them. On this single CD a selection performed by Grieg interpreter par excellence, Håkon Austbø.

The composer Edvard Grieg was at the forefront of a flourishing of creativity that took place in Scandinavian culture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, alongside his contemporaries, Nielsen and Sibelius.

His imagination was particularly fired by the folk music and stories of his native Norway; it is, therefore, unsurprising that the music that resulted from this passion is some of his most popular with listeners. One such example is Peer Gynt, incidental music composed for Henrik Ibsen’s play, based on the Norwegian folk tale Per Gynt. Although the play itself met with a mixed reception, Grieg’s music, extracted and turned into two orchestral suites in 1888 and 1891, has become a staple of the concert hall – there cannot be many listeners unfamiliar with the fantastical sounds of ‘In the Hall of the Mountain King’ or the sublime evocation of sunrise in ‘Morning Mood’.

The majority of Grieg’s Piano Works, played by his compatriot, Norwegian Hakon Austbó - Received great reviews, among which a Diapason d’Or.

Although his best-known compositions remain the A minor Piano Concerto and the incidental music composed for Ibsen’s fantastical play Peer Gynt, Grieg’s main achievement remains the shorter pieces he wrote both for piano solo and for orchestra, together with a large quantity of lyrical songs that show a remarkable balance between singer and piano accompaniment and some of which have found a firm hold in the Lieder singer’s repertoire.

A collection of everyone’s favourite sacred choral music, including Mozart’s Ave verum corpus, Faure’s Cantique de Jean Racine and Franck’s Panis angelicus.

In addition to these famous works is music by Bruckner, Stanford, Grieg, Byrd, Mendelssohn, Lotti, Rachmaninoff, Elgar and Brahms. This is music to soothe the soul!

This collection is very varied featuring string quartets, piano quartets, trios, clarinet quintets and string quintets in addition to other combinations.

The attractive repertoire is selected from the Classical and Romantic eras up to and including Grieg’s string quartets. Dvorák’s Dumky Trio, the Brahms Horn Trio and Schubert and Mendelssohn’s Octets are but a few of the popular chamber included in this set.

5 CD + CD ROM of booklet notes and sung texts

CD 1: Lamentation

CD 2: Henry Purcell

CD 3: Evensong & Vespers at King's - Vespers for the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Evenson for Advent

CD 4: Sacred Choral Favourites

CD 5: Works by Rutter, Bernstein & Poulenc