Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)

Karelia Suite, Op.11

Sibelius was the first Finnish composer to achieve an international reputation and was highly regarded as a figure of national importance in Finland during his lifetime. He repaid this respect by writing a number of works in the nationalistic spirit, demonstrating a clear love of his homeland, most notably his famous tone poem Finlandia.

DURATION 16 minutes

Year Of Composition 1893

THE WORLD IN 1893...

Rudolf Diesel receives a patent for the diesel engine.

Thomas Edison finishes construction of the first motion picture studio in West Orange, New Jersey.

New Zealand becomes the first country in the world to grant women the right to vote in parliamentary elections.

Further Listening

Jessie Montgomery – Banner

A reimagining of the concept of ‘national anthems’ for the 21st century.

The Karelia Suite comprises three movements (Intermezzo, Ballade, Alla Marcia) extracted from incidental music commissioned by the Viipuri Students Association as accompaniment to eight tableaux depicting episodes in Karelian history. These were performed at a social event organised to fund-raise for the education of the people of the Viipuri Province (part of Finland from 1812 to 1945). Sibelius wrote this music with its first audience in mind. He adopts a simple folk-like idiom with flashes of grandeur and nobility to reflect both the humble way of life and unwavering patriotism of the local people. Sibelius did this so well that the reception at the premiere was rapturous, the composer remarking ‘you couldn’t hear a single note of the music –everyone was on their feet cheering and clapping’.

By Jack Johnson (© NYOS, 2022)