Edvard Grieg

Edvard Grieg was a Norwegian composer and pianist who lived from 1843 to 1907. He is widely regarded as one of the leading Romantic era composers and a pioneer of the Norwegian nationalist school of music. He is best known for his Piano Concerto in A minor, his incidental music for Henrik Ibsen's play Peer Gynt, and his Lyric Pieces for piano. He also used Norwegian folk music elements in his compositions, which helped to promote the music and culture of Norway. He studied at the Leipzig Conservatory, where he was influenced by Mendelssohn and Schumann, but later developed his own distinctive style. He was friends with other Scandinavian composers, such as Rikard Nordraak and Niels Gade. He married his cousin Nina Hagerup, who was a singer and an interpreter of his songs. He suffered from poor health throughout his life and died in his hometown of Bergen. He is buried there in a mountain cave overlooking the city. He is the most celebrated person from the city of Bergen, with numerous statues, buildings, and institutions named after him. His music is part of the standard classical repertoire worldwide and has inspired many other composers.