'In the Hall of the Mountain King' is one of Edvard Grieg's most iconic pieces, taken from his Peer Gynt suite of 1876. It is undoubtedly famous for rousing the spirit and putting fire in the blood.
I apologise if that sounds rather hyperbolic (and graphic), but to me, this really is a piece full of energy. Ignoring the basic scientific principle that energy cannot be created, it must be said that the way Grieg has his instruments 'collide' in a fierce cacophony of sound, yet somehow avoids individual 'cannon blasts' creating discordance with each other, is truly expressive of the composer's masterful nature.
Peer Gynt is an epic fairy tale, dramatised by Henrik Ibsen, in which the eponymous hero eventually finds himself in the Hall of the Mountain King, a place of squalor, ruled by the Troll King, Dovregubben. The Song of the Day is the music that accompanies this dream sequence and one can feel the Scandinavian influence coming through, as well as the surreal appearance of goblins, trolls, and other creatures, popping up with frenetic energy, culminating in the arrival of the Troll king himself. If only life was that interesting, huh?
You can take a listen to this wonderful piece of music on YouTube, below:
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