From Folk Tunes to Haugtussa

Grieg Op. 66 and 67 Two opus numbers stand side by side in Edvard Grieg’s catalogue of works and tell us something essential about his musical language. In the 19 Norwegian Folk Songs, Op. 66, Grieg takes Norwegian folk tunes as his starting point and gives them his own harmonic and tonal dress. In Haugtussa, Op. 67, the melodies are his own, but the connection to folk music lives on through, among other things, modal sonorities, dance rhythms and open fifths. At the same time, chromaticism and daring harmonic colours point forward towards a more modern musical language. Haugtussa is based on Arne Garborg’s poem cycle from 1895 about Veslemøy, a young girl who lives close to nature and can see what others cannot see. Grieg was gripped by the poems almost immediately, and the result was eight songs in which we follow Veslemøy through falling in love, longing, betrayal and grief. Nature is present throughout, not merely as a backdrop but as part of her inner world. Grieg himself described the connection between his own harmonic “feeling” and the Norwegian folk tune as a mystery. Heard together, Op. 66 and 67 give us a glimpse into precisely this mystery. Programme: Grieg / 19 Norwegian Folk Songs, Op. 66 Grieg / Haugtussa, Op. 67

• Siri Kval Ødegård
• Marina Johansson

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