Sibelius, Jean << sih BAY lee uhs, zhahn >> (1865-1957), was a Finnish composer. His most important works are his seven symphonies and many symphonic poems for orchestra. Sibelius based most of his symphonic poems on Finland’s national epic poem, the Kalevala. These compositions express Sibelius’s impressions of Finland’s forests, lakes, cool summers, and snowy winters.
Sibelius’s earlier and more melodious compositions became his most popular works. They include The Swan of Tuonela (1893), Finlandia (1900), Second Symphony (1902), and Valse Triste (1904). He developed a less melodious style after about 1904. His Fifth Symphony (1915) is the best introduction to his later style. In both his earlier and later symphonies, Sibelius first stated his themes in fragmentary form. He developed the themes during the composition and presented them in complete form near the end of each movement or work.
Loading the player...Valse Triste
Sibelius was born on Dec. 8, 1865, in Hameenlinna. He studied music at the Helsinki Conservatory and then, from 1889 to 1892, in Berlin and Vienna. The government awarded Sibelius a pension in 1897, enabling him to devote himself to composing.
Sibelius’s most famous work, Finlandia, was first performed in 1900 in Helsinki. At that time, Russia ruled Finland. Finlandia expressed so much national pride and patriotism that for many years the Russians refused to permit its performance. But the work became the anthem of the Finnish independence movement. Russian troops left Finland in 1918.
Loading the player...Finlandia
During the early 1900’s, Sibelius became internationally known as a composer and conductor. But he stopped composing in 1929 because he disliked the new trends in composition and did not wish to write in the modern styles. He died on Sept. 20, 1957.
