Gieseking recorded the Lyric Pieces in 1956, shortly before his death, having recorded five of them eight years previously, in 1948. The differences are marginal but illuminating, yet in both versions you will hear playing where a truly transcendental pianism is at the service of a total affinity with Grieg's elusive idiom. In the Waltz (Op.12 No.2) Gieseking's delectable lightness is achieved with the most audaciously spare pedaling (a lesson for all less aurally aware pianists). In Grandmother's minuet (Op.68 No.2) he gives us a spry and elegantly tripping old lady, but in Puck (Op.71 No.3) and March of the dwarfs (Op.54 No.3) we are made aware of sinister and supernatural as well as playful possibilities. A unique artist, Gieseking's sublime indifference to difficulty allowed him to recreate with supersensitive antennae the very heart of the matter...

Book 1, Op. 19b (1829-1830)
00:00 I. Andante con moto, in E Major, Op. 19 No. 1
04:49 VI. Andante sostenuto, in G minor, Op. 19 No. 6 “Venetian Gondola Song”
Book 2, Op. 30 (1833-1834)
07:24 VI. Allegretto, in F-Sharp minor, Op. 30 No. 6 “Venetian Gondola Song”
Book 3, Op. 38 (1836-1837)
11:04 IV. Andante, in A Major, Op. 38 No. 4
13:42 VI. Andante con moto, in A-Flat Major, Op. 38 No. 6 “Duetto”
Book 4, Op. 53 (1839-1841)
18:36 II. Allegro non troppo, in E-Flat Major, Op. 53 No. 2
21:22 III. Presto agitato, in G minor, Op. 53 No. 3
24:17 IV. Adagio, in F Major, Op. 53 No. 4
Book 5, Op. 62 (1842-1844)
26:50 I. Andante espressivo, in G Major, Op. 62 No. 1
29:09 V. Andante, in A minor, Op. 62 No. 5 “Venetian Gondola Song”
32:04 VI. Andante grazioso, in A Major, Op. 62 No. 6 “Frühlingslied”
Book 6, Op. 67 (1843-1845)
34:53 III. Andante tranquillo, in B-Flat Major, Op. 67 No. 3
37:38 IV. Presto, in C Major, Op. 67 No. 4 “Spinnerlied: The Bee’s Wedding”
Book 7, Op. 85 (1834-1845)
39:30 IV. Andante sostenuto, in D Major, Op. 85 No. 4
42:17 VI. Allegretto con moto, in B-Flat Major, Op. 85 No. 6
Book 8, Op. 102 (1842-1845)
45:40 III. Adagio, in D Major, Op. 102 No. 2
47:07 V. Un poco agitato, in G minor, Op. 102 No. 4

Piano: Walter Gieseking
Recorded in 1956, at London
New mastering in 2022 by AB for CMRR