Description
Henrik Ibsen asked Grieg to compose the incidental music for a production of his play Peer Gynt. The play, which tells the story of the downfall and subsequent redemption of the titular character (a Norwegian peasant anti-hero), was premièred in 1876 and was a triumphant success. Grieg later used eight segments of the incidental music to create two four-movement suites. In the Hall of the Mountain King is the finale to the first suite and is one of Grieg’s most recognisable pieces. It builds on a single theme that gradually increases in both tempo and volume to reach a frenetic finale.
The music accompanies a dreamlike sequence in which Peer arrives at the Hall of the Mountain King with a woman claiming to be the troll king’s daughter. There the Mountain King sits on his throne amidst a great crowd of troll courtiers, gnomes and goblins. The king gives Peer the opportunity of becoming a troll if he marries his daughter. Peer deliberates but eventually declines. Peer is then confronted with the fact that the woman is pregnant, although he denies that it’s any of his doing. A good point at which to wake up!
In this arrangement for bassoon choir there are eight bassoon parts and one contrabassoon part. Optional parts are also provided for easy bassoon and mini bassoons in F and G. Players 1 and A should be opposite each other at the outer extremities of a semicircle, with the remaining players placed in order towards the centre, where the contra should sit.
Also available for bassoon quartet.
