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Hi, I just have a question, in the first movement of the Grieg A minor concerto how are the arpeggios in the third measure played?, are they played as groups of four or as groups of eight per beat?

rov:

There is actually a different forum designed for a question such as this.

I could be VERY wrong, but my feeble memory suggests that they are played in groups of eight. Of course, depending on the interp, one might give the impression of four, as one begins the upward sweep starting on the low A.

The Schirmer edition has the advantage of Percy Grainger's advice, which is valuable in this instance.

Karl Watson,
Staten Island, NY

Since the piano introduction is a quasi-cadenza, you can play those groups in measure three (groups of four sixteenth-notes in the score) fairly freely. Moreover, Grainger marks the first note of the measure as sosten. (which means, in this context, to draw out the tempo slightly when compared to the tempo of the previous measure), and Grieg adds stringendo which means increasing the tempo.

Therefore, as most performers do, the first group of notes is played relatively slowly with a gradual accelerando as one moves towards the end of the measure. One does not strictly count the beats in this measure, in my opinion.

KW is right, however. This question should be asked in the Pianist Corner, not here. You would likely get more responses there.

Regards,

Note that I've moved this thread here from the piano forum.

Hi,

When I played this I kinda grouped and shaped 8 notes at a time, with overall momentum leading towards the topmost note in the measure. You actually have quite a lot of freedom here, like Bruce suggested.

I was lucky enough to play this with orchestra several years ago. The hardest part of the whole thing, surprisingly, was getting that big a minor chord synced up with the orchestra after the timpani roll! Also there are some arpeggios at the end of the piece that are near impossible to hear over the orchestra. It's a fun piece.

Dear rov:
In my opinion, Bruce's response is comprehensive and answers your question perfectly.
Karl Watson,
Staten Island, NY