Uploaded December 2016 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

---

Music by Edvard Grieg
Conducted by Michael Wang, JE '17
Performed at 'DPops Summons the Heroes' at Davenport College on October 7th, 2016.

Popularized by its feature in old Bugs Bunny cartoons (among other appearances - see dedicated Wikipedia article “Grieg’s music in popular music”), the incidental music for Peer Gynt contains some of the most popular themes in classical music. Although the original play by Henrik Ibsen is rather obscure (see “Notes on the Music”), many in the audience will recognize “Morning Mood,” one of approximately two famous pieces appropriated to depict sunrises (the other being Rossini’s William Tell Overture), and “In the Hall of the Mountain King,” one of approximately two famous pieces that are literally the same thing over and over again (the other being Ravel’s Bolero). Since movements II and III are not nearly as popular, and we are a pops orchestra, they have been omitted from tonight’s program. Sorry, Edvard.

Program Notes by Michael Wang