This music by Grieg, the leader of Norwegian folk music, accompanies Henrik Ibsen's 1867 play of the same name, which is one of the most widely performed Norwegian plays. The play tells the story of Peer Gynt's traveling around the world, his life journey, adventures, downfall, subsequent redemption and learning in life. Peer Gynt is a charming but conceited and irreverent Norwegian peasant who abducts a bride from her wedding and then abandons her to travel the world and live other adventures.
The total score was like a soundtrack, including 26 movements which were later organised in 2 Suites. Suite No 1 is one of the composer's most popular works. It opens with the piece "Morning Mood" which intends to build atmosphere by painting an acoustic picture of the sunrise. The gradual loudening of the music represents the gradual development of the beginning of the day, with the mountains and forests in the background. As Grieg wrote: " I imagine the sun breaking through the clouds at the first 'forte' [of the music]". Then, the second movement "Aase's Death" is a contrast to the serene atmosphere of the first movement, and describes the death of Peer Gynt's mother. The music becomes dark and tragic as Aase dies all alone on the mountain, with nobody to help her. The third movement "Anitra's Dance" depicts a dance by the seductive and exotic Anitra, with whom Peer Gynt is obsessed. It is a joyful and alluring music, also resembling to a waltz, conveying to the listener the girl's beauty and charm .
And finally, Suite No1 ends with a music piece titled "In the Hall of the Mountain King", a mysterious and fun repetitive music theme, gradually building in speed and tension to lead us to an energetic climax. The music accompanies a scene, where Peer Gynt is being chased by gnomes because he refuses to marry the king's daughter. The tension builds us as Peer Gynt runs faster and faster to get away.