Description
Peter Gink, by the American composer George L. Cobb (1886-1942), is a ‘one-step’ parody of Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite No. 1. Subtitled ‘Apologies to Grieg’ it includes jazzed up strains from In the Hall of the Mountain King, Anitra’s Dance and Morning Mood. Cobb wrote the piece in 1918 – the same year he penned his famous Russian Rag – a ragtime version of Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in C# minor.
Peter Gink caused quite a stir in musical circles in the United States and nearly incited an international incident. American critics described Cobb’s piece as ‘sacrilege’, saying “It is disgraceful the way beautiful music is being converted into vulgar, impossible jazz”, and declaring that music lovers should “rebel against this outrageous profanity.” Unsurprisingly the people of Grieg’s homeland were not at all amused by Peter Gink either, as summed up by the newspaper headline ‘Peer Gynt Shimmie Makes Norway Shiver With Anger’. Representatives of high Norwegian culture complained to American authorities to protest about the “desecration of genius.”
Cobb evidently enjoyed giving classics a jazzy touch. Undeterred by the Peter Gink furore the Peer Gynt movement previously untouched by Cobb received his attention in 1920 when Death of Åse received the one-step treatment, becoming Asa’s Toddy. Cobb also went on to similarly parody other classical works by Verdi, Bizet and Chaminade.
That said, Peter Gink is fun! Here Cobb’s Peer Gynt rethink is presented in an arrangement for bassoon quartet.
