INTRODUCTION

A finnish composer identified with the Finnish nationalism movement before 1918 who is popularly known for the romantic, nationalist works he produced at that time, including the famous Finlandia(written for the Press Celebrations of 1899) and the Valse Triste. His last work in this style, written a few years later, was Symphony No.2, with its Scandinavian flavor of open spaces. Sibelius contiually sought new techniques and sounds, from the neoclassicism of the third Symphony to the almost nontonal-based fourth Symphony.

FAMOUS WORKS COMPOSED BY JEAN SIBELIUS:

- Violin Concerto in D minor

- Finlandia

- Four Legends from the Kalevala

- Symphonies : Kullervo, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (Symphonies in red are my favourites)

MIDIS

Finlandia

Karelia Suite -

Alla Marcia

Intermezzo

Symphony No.2

1st Movement

2nd Movement

3rd + 4th Movement

Romance in Dm, No. 4

AN INTERVIEW WITH JEAN SIBELIUS

Jean Sibelius actually seldom gave interviews to journalists. So it is extremely hard to hear his voice for today's people. But here I've found one!

This is a nine-minute interview by Kalevi Kilpi of the Finnish Broadcasting Company which was recorded on December, 1948, in the library of Sibelius' home, Ainola. This interview was broadcast on the composer's 83rd birthday, December 8, 1948.

Date : December, 1948

Place : Library of Sibelius' home, Ainola, Tuusula, Finland

Language : Finnish

 

Translation --

In case you do not know Finnish (I think most of you don't), here is the English translation:

K - Kalevi Kilipi     S - Jean Sibelius)

K : In which countries, would you say, is your music interpreted best?

S : In Britain and Sweden too, apart from Finland of course, where there is a vigorous tradition for playing my music. I have noticed that the more my music is played the more accurate the tempi become.

K : If a young composer, or an aspiring composer, came to you for advice about their work, what would it be?

S : Never write any unnecessary notes because every note should have a life of its own.