Trolling Around with Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite No 1
III. Anitra's Dance
Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46
Hello, I'm Edvard Grieg, and I'm about to explain III. Anitra's Dance, the third movement of my Peer Gynt Suite No 1. You'll follow a soft, delicate mazurka for strings and a sparkling triangle, the dance Anitra uses to charm Peer while he poses as a prophet. Since my fellow composers and I teach you on this site to recognize our pieces when they play, why not put your skills to the test afterwards?
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Tiptoe Along, Please
Before you press play, I'd ask you to listen for the strings, because they carry almost the whole dance, with a small triangle adding a glint on top. I marked it Tempo di Mazurka, which asks for a lilting, swaying kind of dance, and it moves at about 160 beats a minute. The key is A minor, which puts a slightly wistful shade over the music even while it dances. Don't wait for a big climax, because this piece is all about lightness, so just follow the dainty tune wherever it goes.Named After a Charmer
I named this movement after Anitra, a Bedouin chieftain's daughter in the play. She seduces Peer while he is posing as a prophet, which tells you he isn't quite as holy as he claims. I wanted the music to be a soft, delicate and beautiful little dance, so there's no menace in it, only charm. Listen for how sweetly it flatters, and you'll understand how a pretend prophet can lose his head.A Tune That Keeps Coming Home
Choosing the form for this dance was an adventure of its own, and I decided early on that a grand sonata would be far too heavy for it. It isn't a strict rondo either, but it is built around one tune that wanders off and then finds its way back. I hear it in four sections: the tune itself, a contrasting stretch, the tune's return, and a quiet exit. I'll take them one by one in the next paragraphs, so get ready for a small exploration.Section 1: The Graceful Entrance
The dance begins in A minor with the strings playing the main tune in a light, graceful way. The Tempo di Mazurka pulse is steady and gently bouncing, and the triangle sprinkles tiny sparkles over it. The mood is teasing and charming, with a hint of sadness underneath. Try to remember this tune, because it's the one that will matter most later on.Section 2: A Detour in Slippers
In the second section the music steps away from its home key, and the colors shift for a while. The pulse stays steady, so you can keep swaying along even though the ground feels a little different. The mood turns playful and a bit more searching, as if the dancer is trying out new steps. Notice that nothing here is loud or forceful, because the delicacy I wanted is kept all the way through.Section 3: Back Where We Started
Then the main tune returns, and the dance is back in its familiar A minor. If you remembered it from the first section, you'll feel the small pleasure of meeting an old acquaintance. The tempo hasn't changed, but the tune now sounds more settled, because you know where it's heading. This return is what holds the whole piece together and gives the little story its shape.Section 4: Gone Before You Notice
The last section lets the dance fade, and the music grows quieter and thinner as it goes. It feels as if the dancer is slipping out of the room while you're still smiling at the last step. The mood stays graceful, but a touch of that wistful A minor shade lingers to the very end. That's the story told in the music: she charms, she wanders, she returns, and then she's gone.Your Turn, Press Play
Now I invite you to try Anitra's Dance for yourself. Press play, sit back, and let the music carry you along at its own light pace. While you listen, keep in mind what we've talked about: the main tune, the detour, the return and the quiet exit. I hope you enjoy the journey through this dance as much as I enjoyed creating it.---
I hope you enjoyed learning about Anitra's Dance, the third movement of my Peer Gynt Suite No 1. Did this guide help you hear it a little more clearly? I wrote it as a soft, delicate little dance in A minor, and I hope you noticed how much charm the strings and the triangle can bring to such a small piece. It's a quiet kind of music, and it tends to reveal more each time you come back to it. There's still plenty more to discover in Peer Gynt Suite No 1. The other three movements each have their own story, from the opening sunrise to the Mountain King's hall, and the play behind them is full of surprises. If you'd like to keep exploring, please click on the links provided and see where my music takes you next.