FINLANDIA Sibelius

Education Resource

Jean Sibelius

Biography

• Jean Sibelius was born in Finland 1865 and died 1957.

• He wrote music in the Romantic Period.

• His music contributed to Finnish identity.

• Sibelius went to university to study law but moved to Helsinki Music Institute to study music. The Helsinki Music Institute is now known as the Sibelius Academy.

• Sibelius played violin to a professional soloist standard.

• Survived surgery for throat cancer in 1909.

• A music notation (writing) software program is called Sibelius.

Jean Sibelius

Famous Compositions

• Karelia Suite Op11 Alla Marcia

• Violin Concerto in D Minor with violin soloist Sarah Chang

• Symphony No.1 Op39 fourth movement Finale performed by Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra

• Symphony No.8 first movement Tempo Guisto – Poco allegro, molto distinto

Finlandia

Listen and watch

• Listen to, and watch Finlandia performed by the Sydney Youth Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House.

• Listen to and watch Finlandia with the story of how this music is contributed to the eventual freedom of Finland from the dictatorship of the Russian Empire. This YouTube video has wonderful photographs of Finland and includes the words of the hymn.

Finlandia

About the Music

• Finlandia was composed in 1899 and is a symphonic poem.

• Sibelius composed Finlandia for the Press Celebrations of 1899 and was a secret protest against censorship put in place in Finland by the Russian Empire.

• This work has been attributed to rallying the Finns and their eventual freedom.

• The work describes moments in Finnish history and to avoid censorship was not performed under the title Finlandia.

• Many titles were used when this work was performed, with the most famous being Impromptu, Happy Feelings at the Awakening of a Finnish Spring and A Scandinavian Choral March.

• The hymn has words which have become an unofficial national anthem of Finland.

• Finlandia was featured in movie Die Hard 2: Die Harder.

Symphonic Poem

Symphonic Poem

• A Symphonic Poem is a continuous or one movement piece of music.

• Music composed in this form is inspired by a poem, stories, painting, the landscape or historical events.

• The form became popular from the 1840s until 1920s.

• Symphonic poems can also be known as tone poems or program music.

• The listener is encouraged to visualise the theme or title of the work while listening.

• Examples of tone poems include: – Vltava or The Moldau by Smetana (The Moldau is a river in the Czech Republic and the

music describes the activities seen as you travel down the river.)

– Night on Bald Mountain by Modest Mussorgsky

– The Sorcerer’s Apprentice by Paul Dukas (used in Walt Disney’s Fantasia)

Finlandia

The Music

• The score is used by the conductor and shows what each instrument must play and when they play and how they play.

• The score can show: – Dynamics (loud and soft)

– Tempi (speed and changes of speed)

– Articulation ( eg. bowing for strings, tonguing or slurring for winds)

– Key signature and changes

– Instrumentation.

Finlandia

The Opening

• Deep brass chords played by French Horns, trombones, tuba.

• The bassoons join the brass.

• This is said to be representing the distant, ominous Russian Empire.

• Read the trombone parts in bass clef.

Dynamics forte (f) – loud with a crescendo (<) – getting louder and ending with a sforzando (fz) – very strong accent. Fortissimo – very loud chords

Note the bass clef.

Pause or fermata – hold the note until the conductor stops the sound.

Chromatic drop from C# to B# B sharp is the same as a C natural.

Finlandia

Accompaniment rhythms

• Trumpets announce the call to action.

• Timpani is rolling continuously with the direction poco a poco crescendo – getting louder little by little.

• This is said to be saying, “Rally Finns, fight the oppressors!”

• Horns introduce a syncopated pattern to echo the trumpets.

• Clap these rhythmic patterns.

• Play the excerpts with a friend.

Tempo marking is Lively and moderately fast

Note the semi-quaver notes

Quaver note and

quaver rest

Notes only sound on the first beats of the bar. All other notes are between the beats.

Perform with the dynamics (mf) mezzo forte, (cresc.) crescendo, (f) forte

Semi-breve.

Hold for 4 beats

Finlandia

Theme • This is said to be saying, “Rally Finns, fight the oppressors!”

• The woodwinds and French horns announce the main theme with two bars of semi-quaver accompaniment between the two phrases.

• Note the key signature of A flat major with four flats.

• Find the two phrases of the theme.

• What is different about the first and second phrases?

Finlandia

Hymn • The flutes, clarinets and oboe play the hymn with string shimmering

accompaniment.

• This section is describing the beauty of Finland, its landscape and its people.

• Words to the hymn were written in 1941 by poet, Veikko Antero Koskenniemi.

• There are many sets of words to this melody. Fit the words to the melody. Write your own words, maybe a school or class song or what you love about your town?

Finland, behold, thy daylight now is dawning, The threat of night has now been driven away. The skylark calls across the light of morning The blue heaven lets it have its way.

- Tenuto – hold note for full value

. Staccato – short and detached

Finlandia

Coda (conclusion) • The whole orchestra returns with a triumphant chorus, a return of the

theme and the use of the syncopated pattern but this time in a rising and falling melody.

• Imagine the ringing of church bells throughout the country to announce freedom for the people.

• The coda is the finishing section of the music.

• Play this melody with a friend keeping the beat. Note the syncopated pattern. The notes are all off the beat except for the first quaver.

Tied note across the bar

Australian Curriculum – Music Finlandia by Jean Sibelius

Elements of Music

Foundation to Year 2

Years 3 and 4

Years 5 and 6

Years 7 and 8

Years 9 and 10

Rhythm Beat Quaver, semi-quaver Major Syncopation Ties, Pause , Quaver rest

Beat sub-divisions

Pitch Pitch direction (going down)

Melodic shape Arpeggio Descending scale Treble and Bass clef

Ab major scale chromaticism

Dynamics & Expression

Forte, piano Fortissimo crescendo

Staccato, legato

Articulation: sforzando Dynamic gradations

Ornamentation: trill

Form and Structure

Introduction Same/different patterns

Repeat sign 1st & 2nd time bars

Theme, phrase Introduction Theme Symphonic Poem

Timbre Recognise trumpet Recognise orchestral instruments by sound

Recognise instrumental groups

Identify instruments by name and sound production.

Texture Melody accompaniment

Patterns occurring simultaneously

Contrast of texture

Creating Performing syncopated patterns

Performing Rhythmic patterns

Playing melody Write new words to the hymn.

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Responding Respond to the story. Historical context

Nationalism

THANK YOU Prepared by Pam Lowry, Education Officer

Queensland Symphony Orchestra