Sibelius finlandia1/7/2024 ![]() Shortly afterwards, the last picture – Finland Awakes – was reworked into a symphonic poem in its own right and was decided to be performed during the European tour of the famous Finnish composer and conductor Robert Kajanus. ![]() The cycle includes an overture and six paintings illustrating the history and mythology of the Finnish people: “ The Song of Väinämöinen ”, “ The Finns are Baptized by Bishop Henry ”, “ Duke Johan’s Court ”, “ The Finns in the Thirty Years’ War ”, “ The Great Hostility ” and “ Finland Awakes ”. After the Song of the Athenians and Breaking of the Ice on the River Oulu (written to poet Zachris Topelius ‘s poems, which feature the leitmotif “Free was I born and free shall I die”), the composer composed an entire cycle of symphonic pictures in October, intended to be performed at the celebration in honour of the Finnish seal. Among those outraged by the metropolitan government’s policy was the composer Jean Sibelius, who felt it was his duty to express this protest through music. In February 1899, Emperor Nicholas II issued a manifesto restricting the autonomy of the Principality of Finland, which in turn caused protests in Finland, especially among artists. ![]() At the end of the 19 th century there was a strong upsurge of national consciousness in Finland, which Russia tried to prevent with fierce censorship. ![]() It was written in 1899 as the last part of a cycle of symphonic pictures dedicated to the Finnish printing festival. This soon gives birth to a gravely beautiful hymn melody in the woodwinds: an anthem for a free Finland.The Finlandia tone poem is one of the most famous orchestral works by the great Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. As the tempo accelerates, the music awakens to energetic, purposeful activity. Dark, savage chords for trombones and horns suggest a giant force trying to rouse itself. Finland awakes!” And the musical plan of this nine-minute work powerfully expresses this idea. The text that originally accompanied this music saluted Finnish progress during the 19th century and included these words: “The powers of darkness menacing Finland have not succeeded in their terrible threats. Although he called it a “relatively insignificant piece,” it became his most popular work and its central melody an unofficial national anthem for the Finns. Sibelius composed introductory music for six historical scenes, the last of which was significantly titled “Finland Awakes!” But not wishing to provoke the Russian censors, he changed the title to Finlandia, when he revised it a year later as a free-standing tone poem. An ardent patriot, Jean Sibelius was increasingly active in the fight for Finnish freedom, and his music became a rallying point for the movement, providing a cultural camouflage for underground political activity.įor the evening of November 4th, the Finnish press association announced a “Press Pension Celebration” - a series of “Historical Tableaux,” with texts by Eino Leino and Jalmari Finne, and music by Sibelius - ostensibly to raise money for journalists' pensions, but more importantly to rally support for a free press. Under Czar Nicholas II, the Finns began feeling the weight of Russian rule as never before, and in February, the Russian government issued the so-called February Manifesto, removing Finland's autonomy and severely curtailing the rights of free speech and assembly. The year 1899 opened ominously for Finland, at that time a dependency of the mighty Russian Empire. Born in Hämeenlinna, Finland, Decemdied in Järvenpää, Finland, September 20, 1957
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