Composer of the Week - Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)

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Donald Macleod explores a crucial decade in Sibelius’s life

The 1910s were a crucial decade in Sibelius’s life. He would write some of his greatest works during these ten years, including his fourth and fifth symphonies and the beginnings of his sixth. Sibelius’s meditations on the symphony and its role in his creative life are a recurring theme in the week’s programmes.

This period also reflects Sibelius’s life in microcosm, including his battles with alcohol and indebtedness; his need for the stimulus of foreign travel, and the periods of creative inertia, which would decisively return during his later years.

We travel around the world with Sibelius, returning to Finland at the outbreak of the first world war, which would have a major impact on his life and work, not least with the Finnish Civil War of 1918 and Finland’s subsequent independence: these were formative events for Sibelius.

We also home in on Sibelius’s personal life and relationships during the 1910s, including his money troubles coming to a head, and the return of alcohol to his life from 1917, after years of abstinence.

Music Featured:

In memoriam, Op 59 (revised version 1910)
Symphony No 4 in A Minor, Op 63 (1st & 2nd mvts)
String Quartet in D Minor, Op 56, "Voces Intimae" (2nd & 3rd mvts)
Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op 47 (3rd mvt)
Kallion kirkon kellosavel (The Bells of Kallio Church), Op 65b
Two Serenades Op 69
Rakastava (The Lover), Op 14
Piano Sonatina in F-Sharp Minor, Op 67, No 1
Luonnotar (Daughter of Nature) Op 70
Barden (The Bard), Op 64
Lemminkainen Suite, Op 22 (4th mvt)
The Oceanides, Op 73
6 Partsongs, Op 18 (version for mixed chorus) (Nos 1, 3, 4 & 6)
Two Pieces for Violin and Orchestra, Op 77
Jokamies (Everyman), Op 83
Symphony No 5 in E-Flat Major, Op 82
Drömmarna (The Dreams), JS 64
Jaakarien marssi (Jager March), Op 91a (version for orchestra)
Humoresques for Violin and Orchestra, Op 87
Oma maa (Our Native Land), Op 92
Symphony No 6 in D Minor, Op 104

Presented by Donald Macleod
Produced by Iain Chambers

For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0011rwj

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z

Published on Friday, 26th November 2021.

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