Composer

:

Edvard Grieg

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1871

Publication Date

:

1871

Average_duration

:

3:21

Edvard Grieg composed "The Princess, EG 133" in 1870. The piece premiered on January 22, 1871, in Christiania (now Oslo), Norway. It is a suite of four movements, each depicting a different scene from a fairy tale. The first movement, "The Princess's Awakening," begins with a gentle, dreamy melody played by the strings. The music gradually builds in intensity as the princess awakens and begins to move about her room. The movement ends with a triumphant fanfare. The second movement, "The Princess's Minuet," is a graceful dance in triple meter. The melody is light and airy, with a playful quality that suggests the princess's joy and freedom. The third movement, "The Princess's Return," is more somber in tone. The music begins with a mournful melody played by the cellos and basses, which gradually gives way to a more hopeful theme played by the violins. The movement ends with a triumphant restatement of the opening theme. The final movement, "The Princess's Finale," is a lively dance in duple meter. The melody is energetic and playful, with a sense of joy and celebration. The movement ends with a triumphant coda that brings the suite to a rousing conclusion. Overall, "The Princess" is a charming and whimsical work that showcases Grieg's gift for melody and his ability to evoke a sense of magic and wonder. The suite is notable for its use of folk-inspired melodies and its colorful orchestration, which includes prominent roles for the woodwinds and brass.

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