Sibelius

[redbaron]

I've recently gotten into Sibelius, particularly his piano music. I know that Finlandia was originally as an orchestral piece but I think the piano arrangement is fantastic. In fact I think his piano music in general is pretty captivating but it seems I'm in the minority. It's generally written off as unimportant and unpianistic. Quite how important or pianistic it may or may not be is not for me to say. All I know is that I like it and I personally think that it deserves more recognition that it gets.

Discuss

[richard black]

I can't say more about the solo piano music than that I like the embarrassingly little of it I've looked at: but I can assure you from personal experience that his songs with piano are very wonderful indeed and, over and above that, immensely rewarding for the pianist.

[thalbergmad]

I know that Finlandia was originally as an orchestral piece but I think the piano arrangement is fantastic.

The organ transcription is well worth a listen. I feel the piano cannot do it justice.

I have not listened to a great deal of Sibelius, but i am starting to take an interst in Northern Eurpean romantic composers, so i must visit a few more of his works.

The violin concerto has always struck me as a work of genius.

Thal

[ahinton]

The organ transcription is well worth a listen. I feel the piano cannot do it justice.

I have not listened to a great deal of Sibelius, but i am starting to take an interst in Northern Eurpean romantic composers, so i must visit a few more of his works.

The violin concerto has always struck me as a work of genius.

Thal

Thal, you ain't even started yet - er, no, you HAVE started - and good for you, for you will have a massive treasure trove of music to approach and encounter, not only by Sibelius himself - the rewards will be immense...

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

I am into Schytte, Hartmann & Langgaard at the moment. I will eventually move a little further north.

The Scandinavian composers have much to offer those that like their music with rich veins of lyricism.

Is not the opening music to "the sky at night" by Sibelius?

Thal

[ahinton]

I am into Schytte, Hartmann & Langgaard at the moment. I will eventually move a little further north.

The Scandinavian composers have much to offer those that like their music with rich veins of lyricism.

Is not the opening music to "the sky at night" by Sibelius?

Thal

Yes - and this is not even Sibelius at his very wonderful best! Get to the last four symphonies, The Oceanides, Tapiola - and yes, the piano music and songs are considerably more important than I had long thought them to be, although they remain on a lesser level than his very finest achievements.

Then move sideways to Sweden and try your hand with Alfvén and Rosenberg - something that perhaps you might be wise to do before you embark upon the mostly harrowing music of Allan Pettersson and Claude Loyola Allgén...

To return to Sibelius, I can tell you that I had a few lessons years ago from someone who had studied with both Milhaud and Messiaen, of whom the latter had apparently once remarked to a group of students (at the end of one of those outdoor composition classes that he was on occasion wont to hold) that they should get to know (if they had not already done so) the final four symphonies of Sibelius...

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

Then move sideways to Sweden and try your hand with Alfvén and Rosenberg - something that perhaps you might be wise to do before you embark upon the mostly harrowing music of Allan Pettersson and Claude Loyola Allgén...

I have already looked at some Swedish composers, but those names are new to me.

It is strange that Sibelius should come up today, as i have spent a fair amount of time with Palmgren over the weekend. I do not know if there is any kind of musical link.

Thal

[ahinton]

I have already looked at some Swedish composers, but those names are new to me.

It is strange that Sibelius should come up today, as i have spent a fair amount of time with Palmgren over the weekend. I do not know if there is any kind of musical link.

Thal

A rather tenuous one at most, I would think...

Best,

Alistair

[indutrial]

I am into Schytte, Hartmann & Langgaard at the moment. I will eventually move a little further north.

The Scandinavian composers have much to offer those that like their music with rich veins of lyricism.

Sibelius is one of those composers whose music impresses me at every turn. I got into his stuff after reading about his importance to composers like Per Norgard and other Scandinavians from the 20th century. That region's music is something I can never get enough of and I would recommend anybody to immerse themselves in it liberally. Sibelius is an obvious favorite, as well as Norgard, Rautavaara, Aho, Part, Holmboe, Bentzon, and numerous others.

I'm hoping to start ordering some of the CD sets that BIS is putting out in their efforts to produce a complete edition of his works. Volume 2 of that is called 'Chamber Music I' and consists of six discs (!). They also just put out another multi-disc volume of his works for violin/piano, which looks equally promising.

[thalbergmad]

If you like Romanticism, check out the Schytte Concerto.

Its a gem.

Thal

[point of grace]

If you like Romanticism, check out the Schytte Concerto.

Its a gem.

Thal

do you have the sheet music for these?? im really interested in it
thanks a lot