𝐄𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐠'𝐬 "𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧" (𝐎𝐩. 𝟔𝟐 𝐍𝐨. 𝟓).

🎹 𝐀 "𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧" 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤: 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐝

Winter is slowly retreating, and the work week is picking up speed again today (January 19). After an intense and successful seminar weekend, I am consciously starting this week on a softer note—with 𝐄𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐠'𝐬 "𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧" (𝐎𝐩. 𝟔𝟐 𝐍𝐨. 𝟓).

I selected this piece for my Hashtag#TakeABreak series because it teaches us how to hold on to the fleeting.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨? The title "Dream Vision" (in the Norwegian original "Drømmesyn") does not refer to a physical face, but to a 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧—an inner apparition. Grieg captures this state masterfully:

• A swaying 𝟔/𝟖 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 that carries us gently.

• Sudden 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐬 that change the color of the piece in an instant—just like in a dream where sceneries transform without warning.

• Particularly intriguing (and pianistically demanding) are the 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐬 in the melody. Four notes must be played where there is actually room for six beats. This creates a floating expansion, a brief suspension of time.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞 & 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧
When I recorded this years ago, it was a real challenge not to destroy this "filigree" atmosphere. Grieg demands a lot: the use of both pedals (Una Corda) to create a detached pianissimo, while thumb trills and grace notes in octaves require absolute precision.

It is much like in business with real visions: They are often delicate, fleeting, and easy to trample. To realize them (to bring them onto the keys), we need:

[1] 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 & 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 (technique/pedal) so it doesn't become blurry or dissonant.
[2]
[3] 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 (agility) to let the rigid bars breathe and come alive.

Treat yourself to this 2-minute timeout. Let the ascending sixths in A Major at the end take you along and ask yourself: Which fleeting vision should you give space to this week before the daily grind rolls over it?

Enjoy listening and have an inspired start to the week!

👉 You can listen to the recording in better audio quality on my Hashtag#SoundCloud here: https://lnkd.in/da4nFknt – There, it is also part of the playlist for my Hashtag#DreamJourney album.

Hashtag#TakeABreak Hashtag#Grieg Hashtag#Piano Hashtag#ClassicalMusic Hashtag#Vision Hashtag#Mindset Hashtag#MondayMotivation Hashtag