Arietta (Op. 12, No. 1) by Evard Grieg

Arietta is a beautiful little composition by Edvarg Grieg. This is one of those pieces that you can just play over and over again due to the hypnotic harmonies and enchanting melody. It is a simple piece that alternates the harmonic accompanyment between both the left and right hands. The manuscript I used for reading was from Alfred's Classical Music for the Church Service: Volume II. The last three recordings have been from that music book and I highly recommend it. The pieces are all easy-to-intermediate level and provide an enjoyable experience for even the most gifted of musicians.

As with all of the most recent recordings, this was recorded in the comfort of my own home but with the discomfort of my own piano :( Although my studio upright makes a great piano for practicing, it unfortunately falls very far short of being a performance level or recording level piano. I really struggled to record this piece because I just couldn't get my piano to subdue the accompanyment as much as I would have liked, and I couldn't get the melody to become as quiet and mystical as I hear it in my mind's ear. This is one of those pieces that are very difficult to record without the dynamic range of a great recording piano, such as the Steinway Model B I am endeavoring to acquire. To all of those who have enjoyed my free recordings, if you feel inclined to do so, please use this site to make a donation to my "Sign My Piano" cause! In exchange for your generous donation, not only will you be taking part in improving the quality of my music and recordings, but you will also be honored by having your name printed on the lid of the piano after it is purchased. This way, your generosity will never be forgotten.

You can listen to Arietta by Edvard Grieg by visiting my Lisztonian site, by subscribing to my podcast (available through iTunes) or by using the following media player: