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…
🚨Tune of the Week #2!🚨
“Verlaine Suite,” by Pauline Hall.
DISCLAIMER: Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976: Allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. All rights reserved by copyright holders.
Norwegian writer, music critic, social activist, and composer Pauline Hall’s 1929 impressionistic orchestral work, “Verlaine Suite,” is a French-influenced composition inspired by European tonal languages and aesthetic ideals. Hall’s appreciation for French impressionism and literature stood in contrast to national romanticism existing in Norway at the time. Yet it didn’t stop her work from being perceived with enthusiasm when it premiered in January of 1929.
Hall eventually won acclaim as a composer of stage music, as Oslo theatre directors regularly commissioned her from the 1930s and onwards. Though little of Hall’s music is published or accessible in physical formats. Thankfully, much of her work can be found online and her legacy is of being a turning point in Norwegian music history.
Sources: (Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg, Women’s Philharmonic Advocacy)
You can find Hall's compositions on Spotify, Youtube, Apple Music, Audiomack, and Wopil Archive.
#edvardgriegsociety #songoftheweek #paulinehall #verlainesuite #norwegianmusichistory … See MoreSee Less
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Thrilled to present Uptown Brass for our next concert, Sun., Oct. 25 at 3:00 pm at Mindekirken – The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church.
These musicians from the Minnesota Orchestra present a concert of Nordic inspirations from the times of the Vikings to the present. A special feature is premiere of Dean Sorenson's new arrangement of Duke Ellington's "Peer Gynt Suite" for Uptown Brass, commissioned by the Edvard Grieg Soc. of MN for this concert!
This continues our celebration of the 150th anniversary of the premiere of both Ibsen's "Peer Gynt" and Edvard Grieg's unforgettable incidental music to the play on Feb. 24, 1876. We celebrated that event on Feb. 24, 2026 with a Readers Theater production of the play arranged by Sonja Thompson at MetroNOME Brewery.
Come to Mindekirken Oct. 25 to savor the splendid virtuosity of Uptown Brass and Duke Ellington's sumptuous jazz version of "Peer Gynt." … See MoreSee Less
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🚨NEW SERIES: The EGSMN Tune of the Week!🚨
The tune 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.)
DISCLAIMER: Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976: Allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. All rights reserved by copyright holders.
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.
You can find Grieg's compositions on Spotify, Youtube, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and other online archives like Classicals.de.
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
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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
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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
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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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