[HN Gopher] 'Jean Sibelius' Review: An Early Finale
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       'Jean Sibelius' Review: An Early Finale
        
       Author : tintinnabula
       Score  : 50 points
       Date   : 2021-10-03 01:59 UTC (1 days ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (www.wsj.com)
 (TXT) w3m dump (www.wsj.com)
        
       | pradn wrote:
       | Take a listen:
       | 
       | His violin concerto: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0w0t4Qn6LY
       | 
       | Finlandia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5zg_af9b8c
        
         | fmajid wrote:
         | - Kullervo
         | 
         | - The Swan of Tuonela
         | 
         | - Karelia Suite
         | 
         | - All 5 symphonies
        
           | keehun wrote:
           | All 5 symphonies? There are 7 symphonies that have been
           | published.
        
             | fmajid wrote:
             | You're right, of course.
        
       | arketyp wrote:
       | Sibelius took most pride in his symphonies, but they never really
       | earned him much income. He struggled with finances throughout his
       | entire life. Though mostly made for cash, and more or less
       | frowned upon by himself, I find his chorals quite something else.
       | I highly recommend listening to the Rakastava suite (choral
       | version) [1]. And for any Swedish or Finnish speaker I also
       | recommend Tawaststjerna's biography of Sibelius, quite a
       | masterpiece in itself.
       | 
       | [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6BYY3elwQM
        
       | DrStormyDaniels wrote:
       | I think the final movement of the 5th symphony in E-flat major is
       | probably some of the best music that ever will be heard -
       | specifically this recording, Allegro Molto:
       | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAFouzo3ZHQ&t=1397s
       | 
       | (Its best to listen to the whole symphony, the first 2 movements
       | aren't bad but they are definitely prelims, I'd have something to
       | read at the same time.)
        
       | [deleted]
        
       | jb1991 wrote:
       | Even with archive.org I can't seem to get past the pay wall.
        
         | ageitgey wrote:
         | The Bypass Paywalls Clean chrome extension works well:
         | 
         | https://github.com/qnoum/bypass-paywalls-chrome-clean-magnol...
        
       | billfruit wrote:
       | Too bad, the article is behind a paywall.
       | 
       | But for anyone not listened to him before, I'd recommend
       | Finlandia. Take a listen to hear what an important part those
       | "Sibelian sweeps" are part of Hollywood music scores when they
       | want to suggest something grandiose.
       | 
       | Also it set me thinking on orchestral music that sort of strives
       | to represent a gist of the national characters of different
       | nations.
       | 
       | Perhaps one list could be:
       | 
       | Great Britain : Elgar, Pomp and Circumstance
       | 
       | Russia: Tchaikovsky, Marche Slave
       | 
       | Finland: Sibelius, Finlandia
       | 
       | USA: Copland, Appalachian Spring
        
         | Tainnor wrote:
         | > Russia: Tchaikovsky, Marche Slave
         | 
         | Tchaikovsky is known for his slightly less (or at least less
         | folkloristically) "Russian" style than some other Russian
         | composers, although one can hardly deny his influence on
         | Russian music.
         | 
         | Alternatives include:
         | 
         | - Musorgskij, Pictures at an Exhibition (or Boris Godunov)
         | 
         | - Glinka, A Life for the Tsar
         | 
         | - Shostakovich, 5th, 7th or 15th symphony
        
         | keehun wrote:
         | Highly recommend finding a recording of Finladia that includes
         | the choir! Much more powerful in my opinion.
        
         | andybak wrote:
         | > Great Britain : Elgar, Pomp and Circumstance
         | 
         | Please no. Can't we have Vaughan Williams? And one of the
         | noisier symphonies, prefereably.
        
       | fab1an wrote:
       | One of the most amazing composers of all time. Probably listened
       | over a thousand times to his "Concerto in D Minor"..
        
       | cee_el123 wrote:
       | What a lovely surprise to see mention of him on HN
        
       | Tainnor wrote:
       | I know everyone is in awe of the 5th symphony, Finlandia and the
       | Violin Concerto, and while these are all great (especially the
       | Violin Concerto), my favourite piece is actually his sixth
       | symphony which is so remarkably peaceful and unassuming that it
       | can often warm my heart, especially on a cold, snowy winter day.
        
         | [deleted]
        
       | computador wrote:
       | Happy to see one of my favorite composers mentioned here. One
       | should listen to Snofrid-Op.29 (specially the last 3-4 minutes),
       | The Bard-Op.64 and the The Oceanides-Op.73
        
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       (page generated 2021-10-04 23:01 UTC)