Celebrating
Nordic Music & Culture
Since 2005
What is the Edvard Grieg Society
We promote the music of Edvard Grieg and other Nordic composers. For example:
- present concerts of Norwegian and other Nordic music by local and visiting artists;
- sponsor juried competitions among young artists;
- present symposia, workshops and other educational activities; and,
- disseminate information about Nordic concerts regionally, nationally and internationally among organizations with similar purposes.
Live Performances
Engaging Lectures
Exciting Competitions
View Our Upcoming Season
Events
List of events in Photo View
and from our friends at LEIF Erickson Intl
for more information and tickets, visit www.leifmn.org
A Few of Our Featured Musicians
The cost of membership is just $50 for individuals or $75 for households. Membership fees are applied to costs associated with presenting concerts, competitions, symposia and other events consistent with our mission. Your membership fee will help to make it possible for us to offer “pay as you can” admission to everyone for all performances.
As a member, you will have a voice in the governance of the Edvard Grieg Society. You will be invited to attend the annual meeting of the Society, where we will hear reports on the activities of the Society during the current year, approve plans for the forthcoming year, and nominate board members. Members are also encouraged to perform volunteer services to the Society consistent with their abilities and time constraints, to invite friends to attend events sponsored by the Society, and to make voluntary contributions to the Society consistent with their interest, ability, and other charitable commitments.
Not ready for membership? Your donations will help fund our activities as well. Thank you for your support!
Socialize with Us…
🚨NEW SERIES: The EGSMN Song of the Week!🚨
The song of the week for this week is: “In the Hall of the Mountain King,” by Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)!
(Sadly Grieg’s original version isn’t available as an audio on Facebook, so a cover is used on this post.)
Grieg composed incidental music for Henrik Ibsen’s play “Peer Gynt.” His piece is heard in the play’s sixth scene of its second act when the title character dreams that he landed in a mountain kingdom of trolls. Grieg found that the movement had an exaggerated Norwegian-ness quality, particularly with the trollish self-sufficiency and, as he described it, reeking of “cow dung.” Despite his feelings, he recognized its popularity and reorganized this movement, alongside the other popular movements, into two orchestral suites.
The composition features string and woodwind instruments depicting the assembled crowd of trolls in the scene, hence the deliberately crude and nigh grotesque nature of the sound. The percussion gradually builds tension to heighten the feeling of chaos and the threat of the trolls as the scene continues.
In popular culture, this piece is widely used as a way to create a sense of chaos and menace. It can be heard in films such as the 1931 film “M,” where the killer whistles the theme to signal his presence, alongside various content creators utilizing the theme as a backdrop to the main subject(s) in their videos/posts.
Sources: (Chicago Symphony, The Violin Channel)
Follow for next week!
#edvardgriegsociety #songoftheweek #edvardgrieg #inthehallofthemountainking #musishistory … See MoreSee Less
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Hope to see you at this concert at the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church this Sunday, Oct. 4 at 12:30!
It's one of the major events launching this year's LEIF Minnesota festival. We're happy to collaborate with them in sponsoring this concert.The EGSMN & LEIF Minnesota present a concert of Latvian & Swedish Folk, Classical, and Music theater music Sun. Oct. 4, 12:30 pm, at Latvian Ev. Luth. Church, 3152 17th Ave S., Mpls.
Hui Chen, piano; Zinta Pone’s Latvian Kokle Group; Daniel Greco, baritone, and Kate Mariana Brown, piano; Rödklöver – Cheryl Paschke, nyckelharpa, Don Ladig, pipes, and Sherry Ladig, piano.
$20 Tickets available at the door.
See our FB Events Page for more details and to let us know if you’re interested or coming! www.facebook.com/share/1DeNfy2Lij/
This program is part of the festivities kicking off the 2026 Leif Eriksson International Festival, with events from Oct. 4-18. … See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
The EGSMN & LEIF Minnesota present a concert of Latvian & Swedish Folk, Classical, and Music theater music Sun. Oct. 4, 12:30 pm, at Latvian Ev. Luth. Church, 3152 17th Ave S., Mpls.
Hui Chen, piano; Zinta Pone's Latvian Kokle Group; Daniel Greco, baritone, and Kate Mariana Brown, piano; Rödklöver – Cheryl Paschke, nyckelharpa, Don Ladig, pipes, and Sherry Ladig, piano.
$20 Tickets available at the door.
See our FB Events Page for more details and to let us know if you're interested or coming! www.facebook.com/share/1DeNfy2Lij/
This program is part of the festivities kicking off the 2026 Leif Eriksson International Festival, with events from Oct. 4-18. … See MoreSee Less
1 CommentsComment on Facebook
Looking forward to this concert on Oct. 4! Happy to be collaborating with LEIF Minnesota to bring this cornucopia of music to you!LEIF 2026 is grateful to acknowledge a generous gift from the Edvard Grieg Society of Minnesota to help make our concert on October 4 possible a the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in Minnesota. An unusual variety of music: all the way from the Latvian composer Jānis Mediņš to Swedish classical and folk song, along with the LAtvian Kokle Group and Teiksma (Latvian Folk music), and, finally Rödklöver, an ensemble including nykelharpe, Scottish small pipes, flue, whistle, and piano. You cam see more details on the flyer. You’ll never have an opportunity to hear a concert quite like this! … See MoreSee Less
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
Wanted to alert you to FinnFest USA with over 90 events celebrating Finland happening Sept. 17-20 in the Twin Cities.
Of special musical interest is "Morton: The Forgotten Founder," a history play with music by Haurie Flanigan Hegge. The free performance takes place Sept. 19 at 6:00 pm in Minnehaha Park.
"Move over, Hamilton—meet Morton! This fast, funny new comedy with music brings forgotten Founding Father John Morton and his pivotal vote for American independence into the spotlight. Commissioned and funded by Finlandia Foundation National in celebration of America's 250th birthday, the play makes its free world premiere at FinnFest through a collaboration with Frank Theatre. Bring a picnic, enjoy an unforgettable evening at Minnehaha Park, and stay after the show for live Finnish folk music and social dancing with Lauluaika! Read more at finnfest.us."
Check out their whole schedule which includes lots of other musical events including fiddlers, folk music, Kantele playing and lessons, and Steve Solkela's "Overpopulated One-Man Band."
This is a good intro to Finnish music and culture that we hope whets your whistle for our Feb. 21 celebration of Finnish song with mezzo-soprano Holly Janz and baritone Cory Renbarger.
finnfest.us/finnfest-2026/free-finnish-evening-minnehaha-park/ … See MoreSee Less
FREE Finnish Evening at Minnehaha Park – FinnFest
finnfest.us
A forgotten Founding Father. A brand-new comedy with music. Live Finnish folk music and dancing. One unforgettable — and completely free — night at FinnFest.1 CommentsComment on Facebook
Here's another nordic music event to have on your radar:
NOVEMBER 22 at 3 PM
ODA VOLTERSVIK SOLO RECITAL "Grieg in Dialogue II", Augustana Lutheran, St Paul, Minnesota
Norwegian pianist Oda has performed for the EGSMN and at Mindekirken – The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church in the past with fascinating programs and beautiful artistry. This is a further exploration of the music of Grieg and his circle. … See MoreSee Less
Agenda ⎜Oda Voltersvik⎜pianist
www.odavoltersvik.com
Upcoming performances and recitals internationally.1 CommentsComment on Facebook
Here's the poster for our upcoming Oct. 4 celebration of Lavian and Swedish music, a co-presentation with LEIF Minnesota. Print and share it if you have a good place to share the news!
Hope to see you at 12:30, Oct. 4 at the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3152 17th Ave. S., Minneapolis. … See MoreSee Less
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Here's an event to check out! EGSMN Board Member Melissa Holm-Johansen presents a bilingual feast of Grieg songs in this lecture recital at St. Olaf. Fri., Sept. 18, 7:00 pm. … See MoreSee Less
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We are very pleased to co-sponsor this concert with the LEIF Minnesota festivities this October. We are helping underwrite the performances of baritone Daniel Greco & pianist Kate Mariana Brown on this concert. They will be singing a mix of art and musical theater songs from Latvia and Sweden by Evert Taube, Sibelius, Ruth Almén, and Benny Andersson/Björn Ulvaeus (from the musical Kristina), alongside a medley of Swedish folk music.
Be sure to also check out all the other LEIF events, Oct. 4-18.
… See MoreSee Less
Latvian and Swedish Music Concert | LEIFmn
www.leifmn.org
Hui Chen, piano, Latvian kokle group led by Zinta Pone; Daniel Greco, baritone & Kate Mariana Brown, piano; Cheryl Paschke, nickelharpe. Co-sponsored by the Edvard Grieg Society of Minnesota.0 CommentsComment on Facebook