Sunday, December 8, 2013

Jean Sibelius - Finlandia

Image via Wikipedia
Sibelius (born this day in 1865) is without doubt the premier composer of Finland, and this is without doubt his greatest (and most famous) work.  When it was first performed in 1900 it was considered subversive - Finland, while autonomous, was a Grand Dutchy under the overlordship of the Czars.  The Russians wanted no regional feelings of patriotism awakening in their Empire.

But time moves on and changes tastes in political organization and art.  Sibelius was wildly popular in his day, much in the tradition of the great composers of the end of the Nineteenth Century - Mahler, Bruckner, and Tchaikovsky.  Music critics in our age have found much not to like in his music.  It's not complicated enough; it's too straight forward; it sounds like it's, well, old.  To modern critics perhaps his greatest sin is his lyricism.  There's nothing atonal or arrhythmic anywhere in sight.  It's enough to make the SWPL sniff in disdain.

Needless to say, all of this explains why his music remains stubbornly popular to this day.  Those of us who like lyrical musical arcs, music that can still inspire, music that appeals to the right side of the brain - we'll keep listening.


8 comments:

libertyman said...

Never a disappointment on a Sunday!

Amazing wildlife footage - and don't you think Finland and Maine look remarkably similar? Lots of Finns settled in New Hampshire, and many in New England, probably because it was a lot like home, without the Russians invading, I guess.

Great class, always an enlightening visit!

Old NFO said...

I can't help but think of the sounds as a precursor to the battles they had to come... And yes, beautiful footage!!!

Borepatch said...

Libertyman, I was struck by how much this looked like Maine.

Old NFO, it would have been bonus points to have the percussion section make the sound of a Mossin ...

jon spencer said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
jon spencer said...

Trying agin, that last link did not work. Go to this bookstore link and look around for the hats.
http://bookstore.finlandia.edu
The Finlandia University initialed hats are very appropriate for many situations.

Chickenmom said...

Beautiful music and a beautiful video - perfect together!

Old NFO said...

Yeah, they had the 'big' guns down pat...

Anonymous said...

Always love his music. The Sibelius memorial outside Helsinki is one of my favorite places on earth.

And yes, Finland and Korelia look like that, just about every square meter.