| Finlandia | |
|---|---|
| Tone poem byJean Sibelius | |
 The composer (c. 1900) | |
| Catalogue | JS 137/7 (original version) |
| Opus | 26 (revised version) |
| Composed | 1899 (1899),rev. 1900 |
| Publisher | Fazer & Westerlund [fi] (1901)[1][a] |
| Duration | 9 mins. (orig. 9 mins.)[3] |
| Premiere | |
| Date | |
| Location | Helsinki,Grand Duchy of Finland |
| Conductor |
|
| Performers | Helsinki Philharmonic Society |
Finlandia,Op. 26, is atone poem by the Finnish composerJean Sibelius. It was written in 1899 and revised in 1900. The piece was composed for the Press Celebrations of 1899, a covert protest against increasing censorship from theRussian Empire, and was the last of seven pieces performed as an accompaniment to a tableau depicting episodes fromFinnish history.[6] The premiere was on 2 July 1900 inHelsinki with theHelsinki Philharmonic Society conducted byRobert Kajanus.[7] A typical performance takes between7+1⁄2 and 9 minutes depending on how it is performed.
In order to avoid Russian censorship,Finlandia had to be performed under alternative names at various musical concerts. Titles under which the piece masqueraded were numerous and often confusing—famous examples includeHappy Feelings at the awakening of Finnish Spring, andA Scandinavian Choral March.[citation needed] According to Finland's tourism website, "While Finland was still a Grand Duchy under Russia performances within the empire had to take place under the covert title of 'Impromptu'."[8]
Most of the piece is taken up with rousing and turbulent music, evoking the national struggle of the Finnish people. Towards the end, a calm comes over theorchestra, and the serene and melodicFinlandia Hymn is heard. Often incorrectly cited as a traditional folk melody, the Hymn section is Sibelius' own creation.[9]
Although he initially composed it for orchestra, in 1900 Sibelius arranged the work for solopiano.[7][10]
Sibelius later reworked theFinlandia Hymn into a stand-alone piece. This hymn, with words written in 1941 byVeikko Antero Koskenniemi, is one of the most importantnational songs ofFinland. It has been repeatedly suggested to be the official national anthem of Finland.[11] Today, during modern performances of the full-lengthFinlandia, a choir is sometimes involved, singing the Finnish lyrics with the hymn section.[12]
With different words, it is also sung as aChristianhymn (I Sought The Lord, And Afterward I Knew;Be Still, My Soul,[13]When Memory Fades,[14]I Then Shall Live,[15]Hail, Festal Day, in Italian evangelical churches: Veglia al mattino[16]), and was thenational anthem of the short-lived African state ofBiafra (Land of the Rising Sun).[17] InWales the tune is used forLewis Valentine's patriotic hymnGweddi Dros Gymru (A Prayer for Wales).
The tone poem is scored for large orchestra,[18] consisting of the following:
As with theKarelia Suite, the originalPress Celebrations Music suite was never originally released under Sibelius' supervision, but after almost 99 years with the sheet music untouched, the suite was reconstructed and released on two different CDs, the first one by theTampere Philharmonic Orchestra in 1998, conducted by Tuomas Ollila,[19] and the second by theLahti Symphony Orchestra in 2000, conducted by Osmo Vänskä.[20][21]
The last two movements of the suite were reworked to becomeFinlandia.[7]
The original movements are as follows.
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