Why is Grieg's Piano Concerto so Great?? (Looking at Movement 1) Pianist Duane Hulbert

A quick dive into Grieg's Piano Concert, movement 1. That opening passage is so recognizable. The Concerto (the only piano concerto that Grieg wrote) is among the most famous ever written. What are some of the great parts?
In this video, Dr. Duane Hulbert looks at the first movement and gives you a few of things to listen for.
Sample the best bits of Grieg:
1) At ( 1:29), listen for the famous timpani roll (which I'm imitating on the piano. A real timpani plays it in the concerto.)
2) The powerful octaves in both hands introduce the dramatic opening theme at (1:43), immediately followed by a brilliant rising A minor arpeggio.
3) The quiet opening passage sets the stage for the first theme in the orchestra at (2:13-2:27).
4). Full orchestra comes in at (2:43 --2:55).
5.) Then the solo piano copies the orchestra for 12 measures from (3:20)
6) Piano plays tritone (3:42) but the melody breaks out in A minor at 4:01.
7) The accompaniment swirls beneath the piano in groups of five and sixes. (4:18)
8) (5:25) The playful trolls dance!
9) The double thirds cascade down (6:17)
10) At (6:37) the cantabile--or the singing--begins.
11) (7:23) The orchestra enters with a tranquil, singing theme.
12) The pianist comes in with the same theme . Note the groups of fives and triplets (8:15)
13) (9:04) The music starts building, getting more excited, building to the climax. Grieg marks this "stretto" which means pushing forward. Big octaves finish this section.

Please listen to the WHOLE concerto. It's a gem!
The Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes plays it here:    • Leif Ove Andsnes Plays Grieg Piano Co...  
or
Martha Argerich playing it LIVE (October 6, 1968)    • Martha Argerich Grieg concerto in A-M...  

Dr. Hulbert received his BA and MM from The Juilliard School of Music and his DMA from The Manhattan School of Music. Hulbert received the Gold Medal at the 1980 Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition, and also won prizes in the 1981 Leeds Competition and 1985 Carnegie Hall International American Music Competition. He has performed as a soloist with symphonies across the United States and has given recitals at Merkin Hall in New York, Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and Benaroya Hall in Seattle. In 2002, his recording of the piano works of late-romantic Russian composer Alexander Glazunov was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Solo Instrumental Recording. David Hurwitz of ClassicsToday.com called the CD “a production that makes the best possible case for this really excellent but sadly neglected repertoire.” Dr. Hulbert taught at the university level for over thirty years.

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