Jean Sibelius, Finland’s most celebrated composer, has left an indelible mark on the world of classical music. His works, characterized by their nationalistic fervor and profound emotional depth, continue to inspire and captivate audiences. Here, we explore ten of his most remarkable compositions that showcase his genius and enduring legacy.
Jean Sibelius was a towering figure in the realm of classical music, celebrated for his evocative symphonies, tone poems, and chamber music. Born Johan Julius Christian Sibelius on December 8, 1865, in Hämeenlinna, Finland, he would later adopt the French form of his name, Jean, for its elegance and international appeal.
Sibelius came from a Swedish-speaking family in Finland, which was then a Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire. He displayed an early aptitude for music, learning the violin and piano at a young age. However, it was not until he attended the University of Helsinki to study law that his passion for music truly flourished. He devoted much of his time to composing, and his talent soon outshone his interest in law.
Jean Sibelius, born Johan Julius Christian Sibelius on December 8, 1865, in Hämeenlinna, Finland, emerged as one of the most prominent figures in classical music during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Renowned for his symphonies and tone poems, Sibelius's compositions are imbued with the essence of Finnish landscapes and folklore, earning him the title of "National Composer" of Finland.
Sibelius's musical journey began in his childhood, where he exhibited a keen interest in music. His family, of Swedish-speaking Finnish descent, recognized his talent early on and provided him with the necessary support and education. At an early age, he learned to play the violin and piano, laying the foundation for his future career as a composer.
Jean Sibelius, widely regarded as Finland's national composer, was a visionary musician whose compositions captured the spirit of his homeland and left an indelible mark on the world of classical music. With his distinct blend of romantic lyricism, vibrant orchestration, and deep connection to nature, Sibelius created a body of work that continues to enchant and inspire audiences to this day. Let us delve into the life and musical legacy of this remarkable composer. Jean Sibelius was born on December 8, 1865, in Hämeenlinna, a small town in the Grand Duchy of Finland, which was then part of the Russian Empire. From a young age, Sibelius demonstrated a strong aptitude for music, and he received his first violin lessons from his father, a physician with a passion for music. Later, he studied composition in Helsinki under the guidance of Martin Wegelius, a respected Finnish composer and pedagogue.
Jean Sibelius
Pelléas et Mélisande (Pelléas och Mélisande), JS 147 is incidental music by Jean Sibelius for Maurice Maeterlinck's 1892 play Pelléas and Mélisande. Sibelius composed in 1905 ten parts, overtures to the five acts and five other movements. It was first performed at the Swedish Theatre in Helsinki on 17 March 1905 to a translation by Bertel Gripenberg, conducted by the composer).
Sibelius later slightly rearranged the music into a nine movement suite, published as Op. 46, which became one of his most popular concert works.
Suite Pelléas et Mélisande Op. 46
1. Na porta do castelo 2:20
2. Mélisande 3:40
3. Junto a la praia 1:58
4. Junto a uma fonte no parque 1:58
5. As 3 irmãs cegas 2:12
6. Pastoral 1:45
7. Mélisande na roça 1:50
8. Entreacto 2:41
9. Morte de Mélisande 6:04
For more:
http://www.melhoresmusicasclassicas.blogspot.com
Jean Sibelius - Symphony No. 2 Op. 43
The Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43, by Jean Sibelius was started in winter 1901 in Rapallo, Italy, shortly after the successful premiere of the popular Finlandia, and finished in 1902 in Finland. Sibelius said, "My second symphony is a confession of the soul."
Baron Axel Carpelan, who gave Sibelius' well-known tone poem Finlandia its name, wrote to the composer shortly after its successful premiere: "You have been sitting at home for quite a while, Mr. Sibelius, it is high time for you to travel. You will spend the late autumn and the winter in Italy, a country where one learns cantabile, balance and harmony, plasticity and symmetry of lines, a country where everything is beautiful – even the ugly. You remember what Italy meant for Tchaikovsky’s development and for Richard Strauss." Although Baron Carpelan was penniless, he raised sufficient funds for Sibelius to stay in a mountain villa near Rapallo, Italy. Here, Sibelius jotted down the first notes to his second symphony.
More than a year after the first motifs were penned, the second symphony was premiered by the Helsinki Philharmonic Society on 8 March 1902, with the composer conducting. After three sold-out performances, Sibelius made some revisions; the revised version was given its first performance by Armas Järnefelt on 10 November 1903 in Stockholm. Oskar Merikanto exclaimed that the premiere "exceeded even the highest expectations."
1. Allegretto
2. Andante, ma rubato
3. Vivacissimo
4. Finale. Allegro moderato
For more:
http://www.melhoresmusicasclassicas.blogspot.com
Jean Sibelius (8 December 1865 – 20 September 1957), was a Finnish composer and violinist of the late Romantic and early-modern periods. He is widely recognized as his country's greatest composer and, through his music, is often credited with having helped Finland to develop a national identity during its struggle for independence from Russia.
The core of his oeuvre is his set of seven symphonies, which, like his other major works, are regularly performed and recorded in his home country and internationally. His other best-known compositions are Finlandia, the Karelia Suite, Valse triste, the Violin Concerto, the choral symphony Kullervo, and The Swan of Tuonela (from the Lemminkäinen Suite). Other works include pieces inspired by nature, Nordic mythology, and the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala, over a hundred songs for voice and piano, incidental music for numerous plays, the opera Jungfrun i tornet (The Maiden in the Tower), chamber music, piano music, Masonic ritual music, and 21 publications of choral music.
Sibelius composed prolifically until the mid-1920s, but after completing his Seventh Symphony (1924), the incidental music for The Tempest (1926) and the tone poem Tapiola (1926), he stopped producing major works in his last thirty years, a stunning and perplexing decline commonly referred to as "The Silence of Järvenpää", the location of his home. Although he is reputed to have stopped composing, he attempted to continue writing, including abortive efforts on an eighth symphony. In later life, he wrote Masonic music and re-edited some earlier works while retaining an active but not always favourable interest in new developments in music.
The Finnish 100 mark note featured his image until 2002, when the euro was adopted. Since 2011, Finland has celebrated a Flag Day on 8 December, the composer's birthday, also known as the "Day of Finnish Music". In 2015, the 150th anniversary of the composer's birth, a number of special concerts and events were held, especially in the city of Helsinki.
Jean Sibelius
1. Allegretto
2. Andante ma rubato
3. Vivacissimo
4. Finale, Allegro moderato
5. At the Castle Gate
6. M lisande
7. By the Seashore
8. By a Spring in the Park
9. The Three Blind Sisters
10. Pastorale
11. M lisande at the Spinning Wheel
12. Entr acte
13. M lisande s Death
For more:
http://www.melhoresmusicasclassicas.blogspot.com
#MusicHistory
#ClassicalMusic
#Sibelius