Sibelius

by Andrew Barnett

• ISBN13: 9780300163971
• ISBN10: 0300163975
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2010-04-06
• Publisher: Yale University Press

Summary

Informed by a wealth of information that has come to light in recent years, this engaging biography tells the complete story of the life and musical work of Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865-1957). Drawing on Sibelius's own correspondence and diaries, contemporary reviews, and the remarks of family and friends, the book presents a rich account of the events of the musician's life. In addition, this volume is the first to set every work and performable fragment by Sibelius in its historical and musical context. Filling a significant gap, the biography also provides the first accurate information about much of the composer's early music. Writing for the general music-lover, Andrew Barnett combines his own extensive knowledge of Sibelius's music with the insights of other scholars and musicians. He lays to rest a number of myths and untruthsthat Sibelius wrote no chamber music of value, for example, and that he stopped composing in 1926 and didn't need to compose to earn a living. Barnett completes the volume with the most thorough worklist available and an authoritative chronology of Sibelius's entire output.

Author Biography

Andrew Barnett is founder and chairman of the UK Sibelius Society. He lives in Brighton, England.

Table of Contents

List of illustrations	p. ix
Preface and acknowledgements	p. xi
Note on spellings and abbreviations	p. xiii
Sibelius's childhood and youth: 1865-1885	p. 1
Chamber music from Helsinki, Korpo and Lovisa: 1885-1889	p. 15
Berlin and Vienna: 1889-1891	p. 52
Kullervo: 1892-1893	p. 71
The tone painter and poet: 1894-1898	p. 89
A symphony and the death of a child: 1899-1900	p. 123
Finland's own Beethoven-the Second Symphony: 1901-1903	p. 143
The Violin Concerto and first years at Ainola: 1904-1906	p. 160
Young classicism-the Third Symphony: 1907-1909	p. 181
The Fourth Symphony and Expressionism: 1910-1912	p. 203
A visit to America: 1913-1914	p. 228
Miniatures and the Fifth Symphony: 1914-1919	p. 243
The Sixth Symphony: 1920-1923	p. 287
The Seventh Symphony and Tapiola: 1923-1926	p. 304
Life and works of the later years: 1927-1957	p. 324
Conclusions	p. 352
Notes	p. 355
Appendices
Music examples	p. 360
Catalogue of works	p. 374
Select bibliography	p. 419
Select discography	p. 421
Family tree	p. 427
Map of southern Finland	p. 428
Index	p. 429
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