Sibelius

[pianoforce]

Oh. My. God. 

I just downloaded his Dm concerto, and it is amazing.  Truly an amasing display of virtuosity.  Why don't people talk about him more.  Some of his melodies are beautiful to say the least.  Any other works by him any one can recommend?

[Fugue]

Go Sibelius!

Anyway, nice to see someone else who likes him as well. Here are my recommendations.

Symphonies: If you like the really emotional, long romanticism, than I would recommend the Second Symphony in D or the glorious fifth symphony.  If your more of the classical bent, then I would try the third symphony. Its written in a very reserved, classical way that still sounds just like Sibelius. If you like more modern fare, try the dark fourth. Its a very hypnotic peice that sounds like the northern taiga.

Sym. 6+7 are much different, as no. 6 is airy and graceful, and the seventh is the culmanation of Sibelius's "total thematic unity." Its a very awe inspiring peice.


As for tone poems, En Saga is a very early work, but has some charm. Poholja's (not spelled right) daughter is a long, rambling, but fairly cool work that sounds a bit like Strauss (Richard). The Swan of Tuonela, however, is perhaps the most famous. Its pretty much a one movement concerto for the english horn. Its a very somber, sad, depressing peice. The oceanides is a very, very impressionistic peice that sounds just like it sounds. An his peice of "hackwork", Valse triste, is a nice peice of fluff with a good, strong melody that is great for background music. And the tapiola, his last work, is a incredibly hypnotic, otherworldly, tautly constructed tone poem that just seems to belong to another time. And Finlandia is, well, just look it up. You'll see.

In summary, try the Second Symphony (perferably the version by Berglund), the fifth symphony, swan of Tuonela, Finlandia, Oceanides, and either the sixth symphony or his fourth. I hope you enjoy, and that I answered your question without rambling too much.

In summarization

[trix]

You *must* listen to his violin concerto; by turns dark, mystical, melancholy, slavic, desolate and paradoxically triumphant, it is easily one of the all time greatest violin concerti: a profound work.  It contains some of my most profound moments in all of music e.g.,the opening; first cadenza; second candenza; coda (especially the frantic, anguished and wild rolling bow) (1st mvt.), the double stop sections in the 2nd mvt.; and the second (minor slavic dance) theme and the coda from the harmonics on in the last mvt. tho the dotted rhythms in the last mvt took a  listen or two to adjust to.  I find it interesting that all the movements end triumphantly; the pervading pathos in them belies such emotional irony.

Anyway, I'd advise that if you listen to nothing else of his listen to his violin concerto (it's in d minor).

[pianoforce]

Anyway, I'd advise that if you listen to nothing else of his listen to his violin concerto (it's in d minor).

Indeed, that is the one I got, I believe played by Stern.  It's the only sibelius somg on the piano.ru affiliate mp3 site.

[trix]

Indeed, that is the one I got, I believe played by Stern.  It's the only sibelius somg on the piano.ru affiliate mp3 site.

Welp, Karader has 53 Sibelius offerings including the symphonies so dig in! :

  https://www.karadar.com/Mp3composer/SearchAutore.asp?Autore=Sibelius

[pianoforce]

Welp, Karader has 53 Sibelius offerings including the symphonies so dig in! :

  https://www.karadar.com/Mp3composer/SearchAutore.asp?Autore=Sibelius

Ahh, many thanks, my friend.

[apion]

Yeah, his VC in d minor is kickass.  I also recommend symphs 4 and 7 (they're all good, actually, even no. 1), and the march from his Karelia Suite.

Then try his piano concerto no. 2 in B Flat ............. oops, that's Brahms, sorry. 

[Teddybear]

Go Finland, go. 

Anne-Sophie Mutter has made a superb violin concerto recording with Staatskapelle Dresden and André Previn in 1995. Oh, what a violinist she is.

Sibelius's symphonies are worth listening to, even if you hate symphonies like I do. The Swan of Tuonela (Tuonela means the Underworld) is a very sad piece. When I was small, I didn't have the courage to listen to it because I knew it was about death.

T

[Teddybear]

I forgot to tell that the original version of the violin concerto was too difficult for anyone to play, so Sibelius made an easier version. I haven't heard the original version, and as far as I know Leonidas Kavakos is the only violinist who has recorded it.

T

[mikeyg]

God, I wish Karadar wasn't so slow.  I'm downloaing right now at 3kb/sec.