Posted on 09/20/2007 2:21:51 PM PDT by Borges
Why did Sibelius produce nothing in his last 30 years? On the 50th anniversary of the great composer's death, Tom Service travels to Finland to unravel one of classical music's biggest mysteries
In Jean Sibelius's house, about half an hour north of Helsinki and within sight of haunting Lake Tuusula, there is a massive green fireplace, the height of the dining room. Every brick has been carefully glazed, reflecting the light that streams in through the front windows like an evergreen glimpsed in a wintry woodland. For any visitor to Ainola today - the house is named after Sibelius's wife, Aino - the fireplace is a colourful interloper in an interior otherwise completely made of pine.
(Excerpt) Read more at music.guardian.co.uk ...
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Professor Swets (Calvin College) wrote the following words to the tune of Finlandia:
I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew
He moved my soul to seek Him, seeking me;
It was not I that found, O Savior true;
No, I was found, was found of Thee.
It was not I that found, O Savior true;
No, I was found, was found of Thee.
Thou didst reach forth Thy hand and mine enfold;
I walked and sank not on the storm-vexed sea;
‘Twas not so much that I on Thee took hold,
As Thou, dear Lord, on me, on me.
‘Twas not so much that I on Thee took hold,
As Thou, dear Lord, on me, on me.
I find, I walk, I love; but O the whole
Of love is but my answer, Lord, to Thee!
For Thou wert long beforehand with my soul;
Always, always Thou lovedst me.
For Thou wert long beforehand with my soul;
Always, always Thou lovedst me.
Precious melody; precious words.
Maybe for the same reason Richard Halley didn't? (Or is it the other way around?)
ML/NJ
Be still my soul, the Lord is on thy side
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain
Leave to thy God to order and provide
In every change, He faithful will remain
Be still my soul, thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end
This hymn was also the favorite of Eric Liddell, the athlete who became famous in the 1924 Olympics for refusing to run on the Sabbath ("Chariots of Fire").
Liddell later became a missionary in China and was imprisoned during WWII. He is said to have taught this hymn to others in the prison camp (where he eventually died of a brain tumor).
Leni
Oh, WOW! Thank you!
Note how Rattle handles the coda to the finale. The call of the cranes returns in slow motion, the harmonies become dissonant, slippery and hair-raising, and the climax, a cadence in E-flat, is absolutely shattering. Then Rattle concludes with those staccato eighth notes, one in every other bar, that release the tension at the close. A great recording.
The 4th is a pitch black masterpiece, and Rattle does it justice.
For some really obscure but rewarding Sibelius, check out the Quintet for Piano and Strings from his early years. There are a few moments in the first movement where you can hear Sibelius' voice, but the rest sounds like something from another composer.
Heard Rattle conduct 2nd a few years ago at LA Music Center. WOW!
:)
Jean Sibelius, quoted in Bengt de Torne "Sibelius: A Close-Up" 1937
Misguided. Samuel Johnson? Matthew Arnold?
...Just before the earthquake.
Fascinating article about the fireplace and Sibelius’ thinking. Thanks.
Salonen, Sibelius Symphony No 2. This is the Finale (II), but I'm pretty sure the rest is about there too.
God, he is GREAT!
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