Happy August! I was planning on writing about another piece this month, but then stumbled upon this gem while looking for repertoire for one of my students. Hope you enjoy listening (or possibly playing) it as much as I have!
Jean Sibelius
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) was widely regarded as Finland's greatest composer. He wrote during the late romantic and early contemporary period. His compositions were often credited with helping Finland develop a national identity during its struggle for independence from Russia. His music is suffused with the natural marvels and myths of Finland. He wrote seven symphonies that confirmed his place as one of the most original symphonic composers since Beethoven. The short orchestral tone poem Finlandia quickly became the symbol of the Finnish struggle for nationhood and remains Sibelius’s best-known work. In an interview in 1948, Sibelius offered advice to younger composers, ‘Never write a superfluous note; every note must live.’ His music presents proof of how he applied this principle throughout his long and distinguished career.
Piano Music
Piano was Sibelius's first instrument, and his primary teacher was his Aunt Julia. He was not a prodigy, but he had an expansive imagination, and often preferred to improvise instead of stepping in line with traditional methods of instruction. Eventually, he turned to the violin as his primary instrument, but did compose around 350 pieces that included the piano and 150 that were written for the solo piano. In all honesty, this is the first Sibelius piece that I have played as they are not commonly studied or taught- to understand why you may find the article in the further reading section of interest.
The Tree Cycle
Five Pieces op. 75 (1914-19)
Sibelius's "Tree Cycle" is one of the finest examples of the composer's sensitive, pantheistic way of feeling: "the trees communicate" to him. The popularity of the cycle speaks for itself. The collection consists of five pieces (When the Rowan Blossoms, The Solitary Pine, The Aspen, The Birch and The Spruce). The fifth piece in the collection,The Spruce, is one of Sibelius's indisputable hits, a slow waltz comparable to another famous piece Valse Triste. The fast arpeggios in the Risoluto section are truly stunning.
Further Reading
https://www.gramophone.co.uk/features/article/why-is-sibelius-s-piano-music-so-neglected
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