The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-04-22
than tinkling sweetness. grows ever

| may be OF interest TO note few OF the
| salient points of his history Edward
| Grieg was born in 1S43 in the city of
| Bergen. Norway. He had the advan-
tage Of having in his parents, those
who recognized his musical talent, and
! fostered them to the fullest extent, his
| mother being in fact his first teacher
| when he was six years old.
His first efforts at composition were
| at the age Of nine, and at fifteen he
had determined on musical art for his
profession. This decision seems part
ly to have been reached by the advice
of Ole Bull, the vfolinist, who was
warm friend of the family and ad
mirer of the boy.
His early studies in Leipsic under
the famous musicians of the day, We're
interrupted by serious illness which
compelled a return to Norway, his
health being seriously impaired. He
returned to Leipsic however, and gra-
duated from the conservatory in 1862.
The following year he was in COpen-
hagen under the instruction Of Gade,
whose methods seem to have been
more congeniaI than those of the
Leipsic conservatory, but there was
that burning in the young composer
of Gade. to whom the caustic critics
of the day applied with more wit than
justice, the title of Mrs MendeIssohn.
Influenced by the cOmpaniOnship of
Nordrask, a young Norwegian COM
poser of merit, and following the bent
Of his own inclination, Greig speedily
became absorbed in the study of the
folk lore, literature and music of his
country. To this period numerous
compositions among which the Humo-
reslken Opus 6 Immediately following
on our program, belong.
It is also at this period, that he met
the lady whom he afterwards married
and who is said to have inspired nu
merOus compositions. | am not able
to point to amy number of the program
as being thus directly inspired, which |
is to be regretted, as it would have
been interesting to have learned |
through the medium of his music, just
what the feelings of the great com |
poser were when in love.
1t is not improbable however, that |
number 3. G. of the program, 81 Love |
Thee" will meet the requirements, as
the date 1864 is close to the time of
meeting his future wife, and the title |
is suggestive. AS this particular song
moreover is stated by a competent |
critic to lack the usual Scandinavian |
character, and to partake of the Ger
man, it may indicate some special dis |
turbance of Greig's mind.
From this time on the life of Greig |
was a busy one. Given not only to |
the musical compositions that have |
won his fame but to- the furthering |
Of the musical art wherever he might |
IL F hi frOY1
66. to IA, were spent in the Norwegian
capital, where he founded a Musical
Union. and by his energy and untiring
interest gave important stimulus to
the musical life of the town.
Greig received from his countrymen
not only their admiration and esteem,
but the more substantial, and even
to musician, necessary tribute in
financial way. In 1869 an allowance
of Parliament enabled him to visit
Rome, and to make the warm friend
ship Of Listz and in 1874 a further
of 500 crowns was granted
him.
A friend who had some acquaintance
with Greig during a sojOurn in COpen-
hagen, describes him to me as being
short in stature, affable and unaffected
and somewhat indifferent to the con-
ventionalities.
Greig with his friends Neuport and
Schytte, both accomplished pianists
and musicians, formed a trio whose
music was a revelation and delight.
Ny friend gently intimates that the
best of musicians may not be, in fact,
were not the best of business men,
and that it was a privilege, which
however he valued, to occasionally as
sist in tiding over a brief impecuniOus
season. He looked back to this period
with rare delight and satisfaction.
On one occasion, Greig, while play
ing the minuet from his E minor So
nata, turned and remarked to my
friend and other listeners, ''NOw isn't
that diabolique" which recalls the
that is made, that some of
the popular Scandinavian tunes are
attributed to the devil and other super
natural agencies. At any rate, the
particular passage that Greig referred
to is so effective and of such peculiar
charm. that the devil should have felt
It would be impossible IN the time
that can be. given to this subject, to
make more than brief reference to
Greig's life and work.
The distinctive feature Of Greig's
music is its National character, colored
by. and rejecting the old Morse melo-
dies and folk songs, and animated
with all by the fire and genius Of one,
himself in ardent sympathy with his
nations life and history. It is prob
ably not too much to say, that Greigs
music. stamped as it is with his twn
individuality, will be like a minted
coin. standard of value hereafter for
all Norwegian music.
1t is marked by the greatest freedom
OF rhythm and emphasis, by lights
and shades of extreme contrast, in the