Grieg Three Violin Sonatas Harmonic Technique Research

Edvard Hagerup Grieg,(1843-1907）， an Norwegian composer, is one of the mostaccomplished composer in the first half of the19th century in the history of European RomanticMusic. He is the founder of Norwegian Nationalism in Music. On the basis of inheriting theachievements of German classical and romantic music, Grieg integrates Norwegian folk musicinto it, and then he composes music pieces with Norwegian melodies. His music pieces aretreated as treasures by the Norwegians, and loved by the people worldwide.Chamber music dominates in Grieg’s composition. As an important part of Chamber music,in one aspect Violin Sonatas present Grieg’s capability in grasping the Sonata Divertimento, inanother aspect it proves that the composer begins to impose Norwegian folk music intoinstrumental music that owns the meaning of musical structure systematically. Grieg composesthree Violin Sonatas respectively in his three significant stages in his life. They run through theperiod of his composing chamber music. In addition, Grieg improves his technique of harmony.Therefore, these three pieces represents the formation and development of his personal style.This paper is divided into three parts:The first chapter introduces Grieg’s brief introduction and his composition. Firstly, itintroduces his life story, composing stages and works. Secondly, it recounts the background andmusical structure of three Violin SonatasThe second chapter, the main part, focuses on the technique of harmony. It analyzes ViolinSonatas in the aspects of chord material, chord connection and music mode. Besides, it outlinesthe Violin Sonatas. The rules of classical chord are the fundamental basis in Grieg’s composing.With the integration of different music modes and the innovation of traditional chord material,Grieg enriches sound effects in his works. The widespread use of color harmony is the mostdistinctive feature in his works. The integration of functionality and color, as well as full playof color harmony, is the most distinctive features of these three violin sonatas.Based on the above-mentioned taxonomic study, the third chapter sums up the harmonictechnique characteristics in the three violin sonatas. And it summarizes artistic value of Grieg’schord theory.