Fundraising Tune of the Day #15: Åse’s Death, Peer Gynt
Channel: Howard Lake
Date: 2020-05-03

Edvard Grieg wrote the incidental music to Henrik Ibsen's play 'Peer Gynt' in 1875. He subsequently published two suites based on some of the music.

In the five act play this is the music that accompanies the death of Peer Gynt's mother Åse. It is solemn and moving. The initial three chord's rise and end on a major, suggesting Åse is rallying. Towards the end, the three chords descend and end on a minor, suggesting her final susurrations and death.

My fundraising tip based on this piece? It could be related to legacies, but that's too easy. It could have been related to Grieg's ability to produce concise content to fit the scenes in the play - he was under contract to produce short sections of music.

But I'm choosing a different lesson, based on the next piece of music in the piano edition I use. If the familiar melody of 'Morning' conjures scenes of sunrise over snowy Norwegian mountains, you'll be in for a surprise...

Like this slightly different format? Let me know what you think.


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