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Romantic · lyric piece

Butterfly (Papillon), Lyric Pieces, Op. 43 No. 1

Edvard Grieg · Level 8, estimated · With Maestro

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The short answer

Butterfly belonged to a book almost called Songs of Spring. Butterfly (Papillon), Lyric Pieces, Op. 43 No. 1 is a piece by Edvard Grieg from the Romantic era. PlayPiano puts it at Level 8, an estimate.

On this page
  • lyric piece
  • Romantic
  • Key of A major
  • playful

Also known as Butterfly (Papillon): Lyric Pieces, Op. 43 No. 1; Grieg, Butterfly Op. 43 No. 1.

History

Butterfly opens Grieg's Op. 43 Lyric Pieces book, published by Peters in 1886. Editors report two autograph dates for this piece, 16 April and 10 May 1886; they are manuscript dates, not proven start and finish dates. Grieg proposed Songs of Spring as the book's title, then withdrew it because the publisher feared it would suggest piano transcriptions of songs. The title debate is part of the collection's history, not a scene to attach to individual bars.

Sources

What to listen for

  1. Quick contours complete the opening phrase

    Quick opening shapes lead toward the first repeat close. Hear their connected direction rather than a chain of separate accents.

  2. The opening returns with a higher answer

    The opening contour is written again with a higher response. Recognise the familiar shape within the changing register.

  3. A later recall grows into stronger gestures

    The opening comes back before stronger closing gestures. Hear the increase in energy across the phrase.

How to practise it

Keep the quick figures light and their accents controlled.

  1. Practise each long-short pair at a comfortable volume, then connect the line.
  2. Practise the lower groups from their rests, then add the upper line.
  3. Connect the examined phrase at a comfortable tempo while keeping its stated layers and releases distinct.

How hard is it

Level 8, estimated

Delicate rapid figurations require light even fingers, agile coordination and clearly shaped melodic gestures without heavy articulation.

About this piece

Interpretive sketch of Edvard Grieg, an illustration and not a verified likeness
An illustration, not a portrait
Collection
Small scenes, big imagination
Licence
CC0
Source
musescore.com

More by Edvard Grieg

  1. Arietta, Lyric Pieces Op. 12 No. 1Level 5, estimatedWith Maestro
  2. Wedding Day at Troldhaugen, Op. 65 No. 6Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
  3. Troldtog (March of the Dwarfs)Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro

With Maestro

Play it, slow it down, hear where you land

Keep the quick figures light and their accents controlled.

Practise it in PlayPiano