of the fjord, Edvard had built
Grieg, Edvard Hagerup.
Chapter 4. Nina and Troldhaugen
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Just after meeting Rikard Nordraak, Edvard also met his cousin, Nina Hagerup, an established soprano, whom he courted and then married in 1867. She encouraged him in his song writing and he responded by composing for Nina the delightful tune to the words of Hans Christian Anderson "Jeg Elsker Deg" (I Love Thee). He wrote many pieces for her including a Silver Wedding anniversary surprise in 1892. This was the now popular "Bryllupsdag pa Troldhaugen" (Wedding day at Troldhaugen) from his Lyric Pieces, Opus 65. An even bigger surprise was to result when 5,000 uninvited spectators joined the anniversary celebration. To add to the confusion Edvard had invited 100 guests to his home for supper at Troldhaugen, their house on the outskirts of Bergen, without first consulting Nina! |
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Troldhaugen was a perfect home for them. Tastefully decorated internally with a grand piano in the lounge which was dominated by a Rose window he had bought for Nina as an anniversary present. The room overlooked the fjord to both the left and the right, and was ideal for the many soirees they gave for their friends at which Edvard would play the piano. |
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| Beneath their home, at the edge of the fjord, Edvard had built |
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| a small hut as his study - his "Compositionhytte". It was sparsely furnished with a small upright piano on top of which rested a metronome. His 'piano stool' was represented by an ordinary chair and Evelyn and Ron noticed on one of their visits there that it was heightened by a huge volume of Beethoven's sonatas. Edvard was barely 5ft 6 in. tall! The other furniture was a writing table and chair from which he would overlook, through a small window, the fjord below. Who could not be inspired by scenery of such grandeur!. | |
Grieg was to die on 4th September 1907 and both Edvard and Nina's ashes are contained in a cutting in the cliff face below their home - Troldhaugen. It bears the simple inscription "Edvard .. Nina Grieg".
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