Note to Parents: If you are using the Ordinary Time – Winter Curriculum, you are probably hearing Morning Dance regularly and dancing around the house gracefully with your little ones. Your Homeschool Manualor Family Songbook explains how to use Morning Mood from the Peer Gynt Suite by Edvard Grieg for a discernment exercise. Here are some child-sized bites of information on Grieg to use with your child for further enrichment!
Edvard Grieg lived from 1843-1907. He was from Norway. Many people say that Grieg is Norway's most famous and important composer. He wrote music in the Romantic Era. Romantic music stirs emotions. You may imagine pictures of nature scenes when listening to Grieg's music. He worked hard to develop a strong Norwegian sound in some of his compositions after studying the folk songs of
Grieg began to learn music when he was just a little boy. His family was very musical. His mother taught him to play the piano when he was six years old. He wrote his first composition at the age of nine! Later, he went to very good music schools and became an excellent pianist and composer.
Edvard wrote lovely songs and always wanted one special singer to sing them. Nina had a beautiful voice and sang with wonderful emotion and expression. Edvard and Nina were married for 40 years before he died at the age of 64.
►Classics for Kids for a radio show about Grieg with an online quiz.
►Dallas Symphony Orchestra for a brief bio and great audio samples on the composer.
This video emphasizes the Romantic feel of Grieg's work and can be used for the discernment activity described in your Homeschool Manual or Family Songbook. Also, this video, in particular gives a great visual of the orchestra working together and can be used to introduce your young ones to the orchestra and its instruments.
