Niels Gade was a great influence on Grieg's style and compositions as seen in the formal structures, choice of keys, number of movements, tempos, and related themes of the latter's works. Gade's works show the influence of Scotch and Danish folksongs, Schumann, Mendelssohn, and Wagner. Grieg experienced difficulties with sonata form movements and hence relied on models; Gerald Abraham's comparison of the Schumann and Grieg piano concertos illustrates this point. Gade and Grieg's first symphonies, both in C Minor, and each composer's only piano sonata, both in E Minor, are compared. Musical examples and a brief history of the Grieg Symphony are provided.

Works: Gade: Balders drom (28), Ossian Overture (28), Piano Sonata (1840) (28, 33), Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 5 (28), Siegfried og Brunhilde (operatic fragment, 1847) (28); Edward Grieg: Piano Concerto in A Minor (32), Piano Sonata in E Minor, Op. 28 (32), Symphony No. 1 in C Minor (29).

Index Classifications: 1800s

Contributed by: Jean Pang