Agathe Bäcker Grøndahl

Sue Ruby (Editor)

Agathe Bäcker Grøndahl was a prolific composer who wrote over 400 compositions, mostly piano pieces and art songs spanning over 70 opus numbers. She was especially interested in Norwegian folk melodies. Much of her writing reflects the unique culture and traditions of life in Norway. Sérénade  is the first of the Trois morceaux, Opus 15, a suite of three piano pieces. This piece is a charming and exuberant example of a simple A-B-A song form. The contrasting B section features a breath-taking mini-cadenza before the A section returns, fading to it’s inevitable conclusion.

Hand positions that require stretching beyond a five finger scale; usually to play intervals that are 6ths or greater.

Extended Hand Positions

A technique that involves quickly shifting hands beyond an octave.

Leaps Greater Than an Octave

Additional lines added above or below the staff in order to place very high or very low notes that wouldn't normally fit on the staff.

Ledger Lines

Embellishments added to melodies that serve to decorate, increase interest, and allow performers to add their own unique expressiveness.

Ornaments

Notes whose lengths are equal to one-sixteenth the value of a whole note or one quarter of a quarter note.

16th Notes

A type of accompaniment pattern that primarily uses broken chords in varying note configurations, with simple or slow-moving rhythms.

Broken Chord Accompaniment

8th notes whose lengths are increased by half; equal to three 16th notes.

Dotted 8th Notes

Also called the damper pedal, it is the rightmost pedal on the piano and used to sustain notes by moving the dampers away from the strings.