Grieg Norwegian March Flashcards
Who was Edvard Greig?
He was a Norwegian composer who used modal melodies and harmonies (Lydian and Aeolian modes).
How is it not a typical march?
It is a ‘gangar’- a type of walking dance with close stepping.
What sort of piece is it?
A character piece that evokes a certain mood, scene or image.
What happens harmonically in bars 1-8?
The key is in C major with regular sequences, pedal point and perfect 5th used in accompaniment, ending on an imperfect cadence.
What happens texturally in bars 1-8?
Right hand melody with slow-moving chords and a held bass pedal point and stepwise tenor register.
What happens structurally and melodically in bars 1-8?
Phrases start with a 2 bar anacrusis using mordents (except for octave playing). There is lots of syncopation and a 2+2+4 structure.
What happens in bars 9-16?
Exact repeat of bars 1-8.
What happens in bars 17-19?
Treated imitatively and sequentially with chromaticism.
What happens in bars 17-25?
First 2 phrases end on E major chord and the next 2 on G major chord. Each phrase begins on a 2 bar anacrusis with the melody repeated between hands. The dynamics alternate between ff and p with a new motif starting in bar 25 in the right hand.
What happens in bars 26-37?
The new motif is developed through the use of repetition, sequence, changing harmonies and is accompanied by open perfect 5th’s in the bass (pedal point).
What happens harmonically in bars 27-30?
27- D7, Dm7
28- D7, Dm7
29- Dm7, Bdim7
30- Caug7
What happens harmonically in bars 31-35?
31- Fadd9th 32-Bdim7 33- Em7 34-Am7 35- Faug7
What happens in bars 36-38?
Includes perfect 5th staccato crochets in a low register to form a link passage with a dampener pedal.
What happens in bars 40-42?
The opening theme appears at the end of bar 40 at a high register (ppp). A 2 bar pattern is played on the right hand with staccato G’s in the left hand.
What happens bars 43-66?
The left hand crosses to the right hand and in bar 44 the left hand takes the melody, starting a sequential pattern from bars 44-60 (the right hand plays descending chords). The intensity builds as the theme is played sequentially in octaves in the bass clef and right hand chords are marked with an accent.
What happens in bars 69-78?
There’s a build from ff to fff with the theme played in the right hand (bass clef) with chordal notes in octaves and punchy left hand chords.
What are the chords in bar 72-73?
- 1- Ab major
- 4- F minor
- 1- C major
- 4- F major
What happens in bar 77-79?
3 bars of repeated chords with the theme fragmented in bar 77.
What happens in bar 80?
There is the return of the opening theme, but it’s actually a 4 bar link with 2 differences.
What are the 2 differences in the 4 bar link at bar 80?
The theme starts an octave lower and the phrase ends on a C, not a D.
Which bars do bars 84-146 repeat?
Bars 17-79.
What happens in bars 147-159?
They act as a codetta, ending the piece quietly and gently (tranquillo).
