In 1880, Edvard Grieg composed a cycle of songs for voice and piano (12 Melodies, Op. 33) based on the poetry of fellow Norwegian nationalist Aasmund Olavsson Vinje (1818–1870).
A year later, Grieg transcribed two of the songs, The Wounded Heart (Hjertesår) and The Last Spring (Siste vår), for string orchestra under the title, Two Elegiac Melodies, Op. 34. Divided into multiple shimmering lines, and preserving the natural rhythms of speech, the scoring takes the form of a string choir. The two movements are brief and poignant.
Set in C minor, the verses of Wounded Heart (Allegretto espressivo) unfold as a series of wistful and increasingly passionate variations. The text speaks of an enduring faith which has survived the wounds and struggles of life.
Moving to G major, The Last Spring is filled with a sense of quiet nostalgia. The poem reflects on the beauty of the landscape in early spring after the melting of snow. The narrator knows that he will not live to see another spring. There are hints of the bright colors of Wagner’s Prelude to Lohengrin. Ultimately, it is music firmly rooted in Scandinavia by a composer who was a master of sensuous melody and the sublime miniature.
I. Wounded Heart (After Op. 33/3):
II. The Last Spring (After Op. 33/2):
Recordings
- Grieg: Two Elegiac Melodies, Op. 34, Neeme Järvi, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra Amazon
Featured Image: “Winter at the Sognefjord” (1827), Johan Christian Dahl
Thank you for delving into this genre. From Sibelius’ Valse Triste to these two elegiac melodies, they are works of genius in miniature.