Edvard Grieg

Peer Gynt op. 23

Peer Gynt, Op. 23 (complete incidental music) was composed between 1874 and 1875 by Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) as incidental music for Henrik Ibsen's dramatic poem Peer Gynt, one of the most important works of Norwegian literature. Commissioned by Ibsen, the music was written to accompany the fantastical and episodic story of Peer, a restless anti-hero whose journey moves between reality, folklore, and imagination in a search for identity. The complete incidental music premiered on February 24, 1876, in Christiania (now Oslo), conducted by Grieg, and was later distilled by the composer into the two famous orchestral suites (Opp. 46 and 55), which include well-known movements such as "Morning Mood" and "In the Hall of the Mountain King." While the full incidental score is less frequently performed in its entirety, Peer Gynt remains one of the most recognizable works in the orchestral repertoire, with the suites firmly established as concert staples, showcasing a distinctly Norwegian musical voice. Instrumentation: 2(2nd dPicc)+1(Picc).2.2.2: 4.2.3.1: Timp.Perc(4-5): Hp.Pno.Org: Str(9.8.7.6.5 in set): Solo Vn.Solo Va: Mix Chorus. The full score, though uncredited, is edited by Johan Halvorsen. The vocal score, available separately, is edited by Gustav Friedrich Kogel. Reprint edition of the 23 movement version from 1891.