March of the Trolls, No. 3

Edvard Grieg

RomanticKnownmarchD-flat majorAlla marcia2/4~3 min
H6
Henle (estimated)
RCM 8ABRSM 7

About this piece

This piece from the Lyric Pieces captures a grotesque and whimsical atmosphere typical of Grieg's fascination with Norwegian folklore. It is distinctive for its alternating sections of heavy, rhythmic stamping and delicate, fleeting figurations.

Teacher notes

The primary challenge is maintaining sharp, characterful articulation in the contrasting sections while managing large chordal shifts.

Technical focus

left-hand-independencearticulationdramatic-contrastvoicing

Mood

playfulmysteriousenergetic

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to March of the Trolls, No. 3

Comparable difficulty and character — good candidates for what to learn next.

Browse all Henle level 6 pieces (Advanced) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is March of the Trolls, No. 3 by Edvard Grieg?

March of the Trolls, No. 3 is rated Henle level 6 of 9 — advanced repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 7–8. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 8.

What level do I need to play March of the Trolls, No. 3?

You should be comfortable at Henle level 6 — meaning you can already play level 5–6 pieces cleanly. Learning it one level early is possible as a stretch piece, but more than that usually leads to months of frustration.

How long is March of the Trolls, No. 3?

A typical performance of March of the Trolls, No. 3 lasts about 3 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for March of the Trolls, No. 3?

March of the Trolls, No. 3 is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.

What pieces are similar to March of the Trolls, No. 3?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Ballade by Edvard Grieg, Wedding Day at Troldhaugen, No. 6 by Edvard Grieg, 12 Variations on "Ah vous dirais-je, Maman" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.