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In The Hall of the Mountain King
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From The Peer Gynt Suite, Edvard Grieg's ultimate troll blaster
classical
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a unique fusion of genres
The music of Michael Duran includes; "Collaborations" Projects with my Soundclick friends that I have had the honor to work with; "Homespun" Solo projects & Covers done at my home. live band recordings; 2000-2004 "The Shop" Heartbreak Highway 3 piece collab/studio recordings with; Steve Layman; Piano & Synth Steve Torok; Drums Michael Duran; Guitar, Synth, and Bass 1990's "The Knapps Cutoff Band" As Is Studio "open mic" and live recordings with; Marty Nicklin; Bass Steve Layman; Piano & Synth Steve Torok; Drums Michael Duran; Guitar & Synth Thanks to Nathan Bankston, Ray Garcia, and Chris Kenard for their fine vocals. 1980's "B'wana" salvaged tape recordings from my 80s club band. Dan Buck; Drums & Vocals Michael Duran; Guitar synth & Vocals Ron Olson; Bass & Vocals Bill Kramer; Lead Guitar
Song Info
Genre
Classical • Symphonic
Charts
Peak #10
Peak in subgenre #2
Author
Edvard Grieg - 1876
Uploaded
September 24, 2010
Track Files
MP3
MP3 2.3 MB • 128 kbps • 2:30
Story behind the song
In the Hall of the Mountain King (Norwegian: I Dovregubbens Hall) Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) A piece of orchestral music, Opus 23, composed by Edvard Grieg for Henrik Ibsen's play Peer Gynt. In the Hall of the Mountain King premiered in Christiania (Oslo) on February 24, 1876. It was later extracted as the final piece of Peer Gynt, Suite No. 1, Op. 46. Although the full piece only runs slightly less than 3 minutes, Grieg described it as "most difficult and abrasive" (to be polite..) somewhat to his chagrin, the easily recognizable theme quickly attained iconic status in popular culture. The Peer Gynt Suite is a fantasy play written in verse that tells of the travels & adventures of Peer Gynt. The sequence illustrated by the music of "In the Hall of the Mountain King" occurs when Peer sneaks into the Mountain King's castle, seduces the kings fairest daughter, and pillages his treasures. The piece then describes Peer's attempts to escape from the King and his trolls. The simple theme begins slowly and quietly in the lowest registers of the orchestra. It is played first by the cellos and bassoons, signifying Peer Gynt's slow, careful footsteps. The main theme is then very slightly modified with a few different ascending notes, but transposed up a fifth, and played on different instruments: these are the King's trolls. The two groups of instruments then move in and out of different octaves, until eventually colliding with each other at the same pitch, and the trolls, having spotted Peer, give chase. The tempo gradually speeds up to a frenzied finale, as the music itself becomes increasingly louder,faster, and more melodic. The Mountain King himself thunders onto the musical stage and runs into Peer, who quickly runs the other way; these actions are depicted with long strings of diatonic steps, interrupted by brief moments of stillness as the Mountain King looks for the hiding Peer. Peer's cover is at last blown, and the music reaches its loudest and fastest point as he runs out of the cave. A series of crashing cymbals and rapturous timpani rolls then burst forward and overwhelm all the other instruments, with the mountain tumbling to the ground and presumably killing the trolls who had been chasing after the fleeing Peer. Grieg is renowned as a nationalist composer, drawing inspiration from Norwegian folk music. His many short pieces for piano, often based on Norwegian folk tunes and dances, led some to call him the "Chopin of the North".
Lyrics
Original Norwegian lyric; Slagt ham! Kristenmands son har daret Dovregubbens veneste mo! Slagt ham! Slagt ham! (a troll-imp): Ma jeg skjaere ham i fingeren? (another troll-imp): Ma jeg rive ham i haret? (a troll-maiden): Hu, hej, lad mig bide ham i laret! (a troll-witch with a ladle): Skal han lages til sod og so? (another troll-witch, with a butcher knife): Skal han steges pa spid eller brunes i gryde? (the Mountain King): Isvand i blodet! English translation; Slay him! The Christian's son has bewitched The Mountain King's fairest daughter! Slay him! Slay him! May I hack him on the fingers? May I tug him by the hair? Hu, hey, let me bite him in the haunches! Shall he be boiled into broth and bree to me Shall he roast on a spit or be browned in a stewpan? Ice to your blood, friends!
24 Song Likes
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Comments 24
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AlexisPatrick
Jan 02, 2022
Amazing work on this beauty of a song. Brilliant.
AlexisPatrick
Aug 13, 2021
Beautiful work, Michael. This is my favorite composition of Edvard Grieg. I have pictures of him with his wife and other family members. I had printed them a few years back. Be proud of your talent, my friend.
Dollar Bill and the Unmentionables
Oct 31, 2017
This has been my favorite movement of the whole Suite since I was a teen, so great to hear this imaginative rendition.
procks
Dec 23, 2012
Just great.Another classic masterpiece. Your sound is so amazing.
THE ANGEL REALM
May 20, 2012
Michael, This is excellent. You are great, my friend!
Marius Amado-Alves
Mar 18, 2011
a difficult classical excellently transposed to modern instruments; original form respected; bravo, maestro Duran
ALEXIS PATRICK
Oct 10, 2010
You are the HERO now, dude...Wow...I love it , Michael. Most fantastic. It takes me back to childhood. You are the best Michael!!!!!! I could not remember the complete melody, and it was to drive me crazy.
Morten Gjermundsen
Oct 06, 2010
Yeah!! :) Awesome work Michael!!! :) Grieg is on of my favorite classical composers. You've done a wonderful job here.I really enjoyed listening to this.Deserves 5 stars and 5 extra smilies :D :D :D :D :D
littlegreenman
Oct 03, 2010
I first heard this aged about 4, it's been a favourite ever since. A wonderful new working. All of a sudden, I'm an awe-struck toddler again :)
Andre Henriquez
Oct 01, 2010
This is a composer that I like so much, the folk themes that you can here in your pieces called my atention since I heard for the first time. This suite is superb and so your job on it. I loved listenning to this:)
Dr. Bob's Jazz - Benefit Boppin' Quartet - JBBQ
Sep 29, 2010
Wonderful job Michael on this classic!!!!! You have added many exciting and creative elements beyond many other arrangements. And so your composition/arrangement sounds new and refreshing!!!!! Also, thank you for your kind comments on our CBC Classical/Jazz songs. Best Wishes Always, and see you again soon at Coconut Blues Club, Bob
Michael R7 GT
Sep 28, 2010
Suspense around every corner! Thrilling bro! You are a true artist! Excellence my friend!
Rodrica Rudge
Sep 28, 2010
Spectacular the way you have taken a well-known classic and added your own special magic - brilliant job!!
The Smivets
Sep 27, 2010
Original and exciting rendering of this magnificent tune - thanks for this MD, got me grinning like a Cheshire cat!!!
KRISTY ANN SMITH
Sep 26, 2010
Michael, What a delight :) :) :) Mystical and magical :) Wishing you a fabby week ahead, Kristy
Mikejazz
Sep 26, 2010
You shine the excellence of your great musical sense and abilities through this amazing performance. Brutal !
Carlo D'Anna
Sep 26, 2010
One of my favorite pieces of music since I was a kid! Well treated here with great voicing.
Swampman And The Machine
Sep 26, 2010
Halloween is around the conner ! Very cool music Michael
Yninoarrane
Sep 26, 2010
yeah Grieg (Peer Gynt) was one of my first classical encounters. So it is brillant and awesome and excellent and brings me back to memory lane :):):)
Keyshardy
Sep 26, 2010
Absoloutely brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!