Composers from the Baltic and Nordic regions of the world have always had a strong bond or affinity with the folklore of their individual countries. They generally tend to eschew abstract or absolute forms of music like large scale symphonies and/or concertos, in favor of picturesque orchestral tone-poems and short-form or miniature character pieces for the piano. And Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) is no exception. For example, Peer Gynt, incidental music to a poem based on Norwegian legend, has always been a staple of the classical music repertoire.

These somewhat simple yet highly picturesque Lyric Pieces totalling 66 pieces published in 10 books over a period of 35 years, are prime examples of musical compositions stemming from or depicting personal reflections on tales of adventure set in natural surroundings and context. With titles like Solitary Traveller, Norwegian Dance, Peasant's Song, Peace of the Woods it's easy to see where the inspiration came from. Pianist Daniel Gortler has hand-picked 21 of his personal favorites from all ten books for this collection. With intuitive and highly expressive playing he lends each one a distinct character and emotive impetus. The nostalgic melancholy of Vanished Days, the dreamy imagery of Notturno, the malevolent yet comical spirit of Puck, or the elegant flutterings of Butterfly, are all well conveyed under Gortler's attentive consideration to expressive details. Even the slightest shift in mood rises to the surface.

I don't know about you, but I find that pieces like these reveal much more of a composer's mindset and temperament than say any of Mozart's sonatas. They are like a portal into their personal thoughts and ideals, especially when interpreted with this much insight and acuity.