The Norwegian composer, Edvard Grieg, sends his opinion over the sea,
from his home at Bergen, where, by the way, he has just celebrated his
silver wedding.
[Illustration]
He says: "I have no particular rule when composing. In my opinion
the art of composition is not at all to be learned, and yet _must_
be learned; for it is impossible for a composer to write melodies
correctly without a complete mastery of his art. Just as hopeless as
for an illiterate person lacking the necessary knowledge of language to
sit down to write a standard work."
He adds that as he has no favourite composer, all _good_ composers are
his favourites.
Of his many compositions, Grieg gives his preference to his famous
sonata for the violin, "Op. 13," a few bars of which are here given.