Top Ten Masterpieces Composed by Sibelius
Jean Sibelius, born in southern Finland in 1865, would go on to become one of the most influential composers of the 19th and 20th centuries. His music, deeply rooted in Finnish culture, helped define the nation's identity during this period.
One of Sibelius' earliest works, the Andante Festivo, was originally commissioned as a festive cantata but was later re-orchestrated for string orchestra and timpani. Sibelius himself conducted the piece in 1939, leaving us the only existing recording of him on the podium.
In 1893, Sibelius composed the Karelia Suite, inspired by Finnish culture and Karelian rune singing. This catchy work features brass fanfares and shimmering strings, making it one of Sibelius' most memorable compositions.
Sibelius' Symphony No.5, arguably his greatest musical triumph, was written after the glowing response to Finlandia's premiere. The sighting of 16 swans inspired the triumphant central theme to the symphony's finale. Sibelius wrote in his diary that composing Symphony No.5 felt like God the Father was throwing pieces of mosaic from heaven.
The seventh symphony, completed in 1924, consists of a single movement and was initially titled 'Fantasia sinfonica'. This significant work took Sibelius a decade to complete and showcases a compelling adventure in harmony, tempo, and orchestration.
Sibelius' anthemic tone poem Finlandia, written in 1899 as a protest piece against growing censorship in northern Europe, has been suggested as a replacement for Finland's national anthem, Maamme.
Valse Triste, composed as incidental music for a play, was later arranged in various musical forms and became one of Sibelius' most famous works. The Lemminkäinen Suite, a 45-minute expedition into Finland’s musical mythology, based on stories from the 'Kalevala' epic anthology, is another noteworthy composition.
Sibelius' Violin Concerto was his only concerto for the instrument and could be considered a swan song for the violinist he might have been. The Lemminkäinen Suite began life as an opera based on Finnish folk mythology but was later transformed into a tone poem.
The significant person from the music field who inspired Sibelius between 1914 and 1923 and was likely reflected in his composition "Symphony No. 7" is the Finnish nationalist and composer Ferruccio Busoni.
Finland honours Sibelius' birthday each year with a flag-flying celebration, paying tribute to the man who contributed significantly to shaping the nation's identity through his music. Sibelius' legacy continues to inspire musicians and audiences around the world, making his music a timeless treasure in the annals of classical music.
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