Tune of the Day: Wedding Day at Troldhaugen
There are 66 pieces in ten volumes comprising Grieg's Lyric Pieces for solo piano, and “Wedding Day at Troldhaugen” is probably the most popular work in the group. Actually, this music does not quite depict a wedding day; rather, it represents the happy recollection of the composer and his wife Nina's 25th wedding anniversary celebration, which took place in 1892 at their residence at Troldhaugen (“Troll Hill”). Grieg is reputed to have said that children called the nearby small valley “The Valley of Trolls” (the large, fearless creatures from Norse mythology) and thus gave the name for his building as well.
The piece is in ABA form. The mood of the music is bright and utterly joyous in the outer sections, but more intimate and nostalgic in the central G-major panel.