Other Activities

Einar Steen-Nøkleberg has had an extensive teaching career since 1970. First as professor in Hannover, later in Oslo, and again in Hannover since 1994. He gives regular master classes at Mozarteum, Salzburg and in Paris at Institut Cortôt École Normale, as well as courses in Japan, China, USA, Mexico, Brasil, Russia and Scandinavia.

Einar Steen-Nøkleberg has judged piano competitions such as Busoni(Bolzano), Monza and Trani in Italy, the Bachauer(Salt Lake City), Cleveland, William Kapell and Palm Beach in the U.S.A, as well as various competitions throughout Europe, including the Schumann Competition in Düsseldorf, Epinal, Bremen, Nyborg and EBU(European Broadcast Union), Lisbon.

"Onstage with Grieg" (A study in interpretation of Griegs piano works)

Reading "Onstage with Grieg" is almost like taking a private lesson with Einar Steen-Nøkleberg, internationally acclaimed recitalist and premier interpreter of Grieg. He offers not only practical advice on the technical executions of these pieces, but great insights into their compositional background. Grieg drew much of his inspiration from Norwegian folk music, casting many piano pieces in the form of traditional dances, using the piano to present the narratives in Norwegian poetry and ancient songs, and imitating the sound of folk instruments. Steen-Nøkleberg details these traits, pointing out Grieg's frequent use of open fifths, pedal points and modal scales.

In addition to treating each of the shorter pieces individually, including the ten collections of Lyric Pieces, the author suggests architectural interpretations on a larger scale for the massive cycles of Op. 66 and 72. He devotes a lengthy chapter to the Piano Concerto in A Minor, which is a must for every Norwegian pianist. With great enthusiasm for his country and its heritage, Steen-Nøkleberg finds reflections of the Norwegian landscape in Grieg's music - the impressive fiords, the deep forests and the special summer light.

"Onstage with Grieg" gives invaluable advice to pianists at all levels of achievement - students, teachers and profesional performers.

• Norwegian original on Solum Forlag, Oslo
• English Translation on Indiana University Press, Bloomington & Indianapolis
• German translation on Peter Lang Verlag, Frankfurt
• Russian translation on Musika (Verzhe-AV Edition), Moscow

Editor and co-editor of Griegs Piano Music on Gustav Henle Verlag, Münich. (Grieg: Sonata, Ballade, Holberg Suite, 17 Peasant Dances Op. 72, Lyric pieces Op. 12, 38, 43, 54 and 65) In preparation: Piano Concerto and Sonata for violin and piano Op 45.

Editor of Norwegian Baroque Music(Wernicke) and Grieg Piano Concerto(faximile) on Universitesforlaget, Olso.

Einar Steen-Nøkleberg is the founder and president of the Norwegian section of the EPTA(European Piano Teachers Association) and the Oslo Grieg Society, the Grieg Memorial Composers Competitions(held annually since 1994) and the Concours Grieg for pianists in Oslo, Norway(held annually since 2000).