Jean Sibelius, composer

Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, née Johan Julius Christian Sibelius, was born on December 8th, 1865 in Hämeenlinna (Swedish: Tavastehus) in the Grand Duchy of Finland, an autonomous part of the Russian Empire. He was the son of the Swedish-speaking medical doctor Christian Gustaf Sibelius and Maria Charlotta Sibelius (née Borg).

His father passed away when Sibelius was young so his family moved into the home of his maternal grandmother. Sibelius’ uncle, Pehr Ferdinand Sibelius, who was interested in music, gave the boy a violin when he was ten years old and later encouraged him to maintain his interest in composition.

Sibelius spent many of his childhood summers wandering around the countryside. His strong love of nature shines through in many of his compositions. His family moved to Loviisa on the coast for the summer months. In his own words: “For me, Loviisa represented sun and happiness. Hämeenlinna was where I went to school; Loviisa was freedom.”

After graduating from high school in 1885, Sibelius began to study law at the Imperial Alexander University in Finland but, showing far more interest in music, soon moved to the Helsinki Music Institute (now the Sibelius Academy) where he studied from 1885 to 1889.

Initially, Sibelius wanted to be a violinist,

My tragedy was that I wanted to be a celebrated violinist at any price. Since the age of 15 I played my violin practically from morning to night. I hated pen and ink—unfortunately I preferred an elegant violin bow. My love for the violin lasted quite long and it was a very painful awakening when I had to admit that I had begun my training for the exacting career of a virtuoso too late.

He came to realize that his strengths lay in composition. One of his teachers, Martin Wegelius, gave the self-taught Sibelius his first formal lessons in composition. Sibelius continued his studies in Berlin (from 1889 to 1890) with Albert Becker, and in Vienna (from 1890 to 1891) with Robert Fuchs and the Hungarian-Jewish Karl Goldmark. In Berlin, he had the opportunity to widen his musical experience by going to a variety of concerts and operas, including the premiere of Richard Strauss’s Don Juan.

While Sibelius was studying music in Helsinki in the autumn of 1888, Armas Järnefelt, a friend from the Music Institute, invited him to the family home. There he met and immediately fell in love with Aino, the 17-year-old daughter of General Alexander Järnefelt, the governor of Vaasa, and Elisabeth Clodt von Jürgensburg, a Baltic aristocrat.

When Sibelius completed his studies, he married Aisno in June 1892 at Maxmo. They spent their honeymoon in Karelia, the home of the Kalevala. It served as an inspiration for Sibelius’s tone poem En saga, the Lemminkäinen legends and the Karelia Suite.  Their home, Ainola, was completed on Lake Tuusula, Järvenpää, in 1903. During the years at Ainola, they had six daughters: Eva, Ruth, Kirsti (who died aged one from typhoid), Katarina, Margareta and Heidi.

He began premiering his orchestral works in 1892 with Kullervo. It was described by Juho Ranta who sang in the choir as, “Finnish music.” Thus began a long career of creating works that encapsulated Finnish music.

On the evening of 20 September 1957, Sibelius died of a brain haemorrhage at the age of 91. At the time of his death, his Fifth Symphony, conducted by Sir Malcolm Sargent, was being broadcast by radio from Helsinki. At the same time, the United Nations General Assembly was in session, and the then President of the Assembly, Sir Leslie Munro of New Zealand, called for a moment of silence and delivered a eulogy: “Sibelius belonged to the whole world. He enriched the life of the entire human race with his music”. Sibelius was honoured with a state funeral and is buried in the garden at Ainola.

Sibelius’ First Symphony

Jean Sibelius’s Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 39, is a landmark work in the history of classical music and a testament to the composer’s skill and artistic vision. Composed between 1895 and 1899, the symphony is a masterpiece of Romantic orchestral music and is widely regarded as one of Sibelius’s greatest works.

The first movement of the symphony is marked by its sweeping melodies and dramatic contrasts, with the orchestral sections alternating between lush and powerful moments and more introspective and lyrical passages. The second movement is a scherzo, characterized by its playful and energetic rhythm, with the strings and woodwinds weaving intricate patterns over a driving rhythm in the percussion section.

The third movement is a slow and contemplative adagio, characterized by its beautiful and expressive melodies. Sibelius creates a sense of stillness and introspection with delicate, sustained strings, and soft, atmospheric woodwinds. The movement builds to a climax before resolving in a peaceful and serene coda.

The final movement is a triumphant and celebratory allegro, with the full orchestra building to a rousing conclusion. Sibelius creates a sense of excitement and energy with driving rhythms and powerful brass and percussion, culminating in a triumphant and joyful finish that leaves a lasting impression on the listener.

Throughout the symphony, Sibelius demonstrates his mastery of orchestration, creating a rich and vibrant sound that is uniquely his own. He also draws on the musical traditions of his native Finland, incorporating folk melodies and rhythms into his music to create a distinctive and personal style.

Sibelius’s Symphony No. 1 is a landmark work that continues to be widely performed and recorded to this day. Its sweeping melodies, dynamic contrasts, and emotional depth make it one of the greatest symphonies of the Romantic era, and a testament to Sibelius’s skill as a composer and his contribution to music. Whether you are a seasoned classical music aficionado or a newcomer to the genre, this symphony is sure to leave a lasting impression and is highly recommended for anyone looking to deepen their appreciation of music.

 

*image at the top of the page an internal photograph of the Sibelius Wind Pipe Organ

Join us at the Hub

The concert ends, you exit TCU Place, and you’re still brimming with excitement after such a fabulous evening. Where to next?

Cross the street and join us over at the Hub at Holiday Inn!

It’s the perfect place to grab a post-concert drink, and snack, alongside fellow SSO patrons, musicians, and the feature guest artists.

We have complimentary appetizers on a first come first-serve basis!

 

What’s happening at the Bassment

The Bassment is one of Canada’s premier jazz clubs and provides musicians of all skill levels a venue to showcase their talents in front of a live audience while accessing a variety of professional, concert-grade instruments. The club offers an intimate, personal concert space with a world-class stage for local, national, and international artists.

Here’s a sample of what’s happening next at The Bassment

Benjamin Deschamps – Augmented Reality
Sunday, November 26

JAZZ TRAVELLERS SERIES • DOORS @ 6:30PM • SHOW@7:30PM • RUSH SEATING

www.benjamindeschamps.com

Saxophonist and composer Benjamin Deschamps is well-known on the Canadian jazz scene for his first three critically acclaimed albums. Having played across Canada and in Europe, he returns with a new musical project called Augmented Reality, winner of Quebec’s Opus Award for Best Jazz Album in 2023. Inspired by jazz greats such as Donny McCaslin and Ben Wendel, Benjamin explores a more electric, powerful, and lyrical sound while remaining true to his unique and ingenious style. He will be accompanied by Nicolas Ferron (guitar), Charles Trudel (keyboards), Sébastien Pellerin (bass) and Al Bourgeois (drums). Jazz fans won’t want to miss this introspective, mature, and innovative musical experience.

Sponsored by David’s Distinctive Men’s Apparel

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Alma Flamenca, Kari Alba, & Duencdecillo Present Devoción
Thursday, November 30

WORLD MUSIC SERIES • DOORS @ 6:30PM • SHOW@7:30PM • RUSH SEATING

www.facebook.com/saskatoonflamenco/

Kari Alba and her dance company Alma Flamenca are celebrating 25 of flamenco art in Saskatoon. Duendecillo, a performance ensemble made up of performers from Cadiz, Spain and Saskatoon, has prepared a program of flamenco art entitled Devoción. The evening will feature El Bancalero (vocals), José Vega (guitar), Kari Alba (dancer), and a number of advanced students from Alma Flamenca including Colleen Kastning, Rachel Heidecker, Rusty McCaig, and Victoria Beaudin.

Devoción aims to bring the audience on a journey to the heart that reveals the profound respect, admiration, and unbreakable connection that draws Duendecillo together in a treasured emotional chemistry.

Sponsored by David’s Distinctive Men’s Apparel

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Belle Plaine
Friday, December 1

COUNTRY ROADS SERIES • DOORS @ 7:30PM • SHOW @ 8:30

www.belleplainemusic.com

Regina singer-songwriter Belle Plaine (Melanie Berglund) was raised on the Canadian prairies near Fosston, SK – population 45. The ingenuity, lonesome yearning, and collaborative work ethic of country life have infiltrated her songwriting, her sound, and her methods. A reverence for artists who defy categorization has led Belle to create a brand of roots music combining the vintage blues and swing tones of the 1940s with classic country styles made popular in the heyday of the Grand Ole Opry. She sees the sees the world as it is adding layers of tenderness and mercy with her evocative, plaintive, and soulful vocal style. Belle’s easy charm shines bright from the stage and her subtle wit can pull a chuckle out of the toughest farmer or truck driver.

Sponsored by David’s Distinctive Men’s Apparel

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Queen Kong
Saturday, December 2

WORLD MUSIC SERIES • DOORS @ 6:30PM • SHOW@7:30PM

www.queenkongtoronto.com

Led by drummer, vocalist, and composer Lorie Wolf, Queen Kong is an exploration of sounds inspired by the Radical Jewish Culture movement in New York founded by John Zorn. Queen Kong seamlessly blends Ashkenazi Jewish idiom with jazz, free improv, rock, and punk to create new sounds and ideas. Lorie is joined by some of Toronto’s top young jazz and world music performers, improvisers, movers and shakers including Michael Winograd (clarinet), Max Forster (trumpet), Nathan Dell-Vandenberg (trombone), Graham Campbell (guitar), and Tom Richards (sousaphone)

Sponsored by David’s Distinctive Men’s Apparel

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A Classic Christmas: Wingerter & Janovsky
Saturday, December 3

JAZZ SINGER SERIES • DOORS @ 1:00 • SHOW@ 2:00

www.martinjanovsky.com

Plumber by day vocalist by night Trevor Wingerter and music teacher by day pianist by night Martin Janovsky team up to present an entertaining performance of Christmas and seasonal classics. Expect to hear everything from Silent Night to Winter Wonderland. A Bassment Christmas tradition, A Classic Christmas is sure to sell out – get your tickets asap!

Sponsored by Wright Construction

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Jay Semko presents an Intimate Winter Night of Songs, Stories & Poems
Friday, December 8

SONGWRITER SERIES • DOORS @ 7:30pm • SHOW @ 8:30pm

www.jaysemko.com

Saskatoon singer/songwriter and poet Jay Semko is best known for his work as bassist and vocalist with multi-platinum JUNO Award nominees the Northern Pikes, and as an award-winning solo recording artist and music composer for film and television. Jay will be performing songs from his vast catalogue accompanied by the stories behind them with tales of his adventures with the Pikes and beyond, as well as selections from his new album, Spiritual, and will also share poems from his book The Poetry & Lyrics of Jay Semko. Jay will be joined by a number of surprise musical guests – this evening promises to be a unique musical celebration with one of Canada’s finest songwriters and storytellers.

Sponsored by Prairie Roots Dental Studio

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