Edvard Grieg ： Holberg Suite Air Op.40-4

With its slow and solemn character, this is one of the most introspective pieces in the suite. A songlike principal melody is woven into rich chords, while movement in the inner voices and exchanges between parts create a quiet sense of tension. A key point for listening is the flow from the calm opening statement, through passages in which the sonorities deepen, to the gentle resolution toward the close. In performance, the melody should be brought clearly to the fore while the accompaniment and inner voices remain carefully restrained, preserving the long phrases in a single breath. Use the pedal in response to harmonic changes so that the sound does not become blurred, and maintain the pulse while expressing prayerful stillness and natural breathing.