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Jean Sibelius FIN [1865-1957]
Group: Anti-modernism, National
Short description: Natural, forest, national. Calls Wagner pompous and vulgar. Sibelius progressively stripped away formal markers of sonata form in his work and, instead of contrasting multiple themes, he focused on the idea of continuously evolving cells and fragments culminating in a grand statement. His later works are remarkable for their sense of unbroken development, progressing by means of thematic permutations and derivations. Self-contained structure is in stark contrast to the symphonic style of Gustav Mahler. While thematic variation played a major role in the works of both composers, Mahler style made use of disjunct, abruptly changing and contrasting themes, while Sibelius sought to slowly transform thematic elements. Severity of symphonic style and the profound logic that created an inner connection between all the motifs. Similarities to Bruckner: unmixed timbral palette and sombre brass chorales of Sibelius orchestration, a fondness for pedal points, and in the underlying slow pace of the music. New chord patterns, including naked tritones, bare melodic structures to build long movements of music, in a manner similar to Joseph Haydn use of built-in dissonances. Often alternate melodic sections with noble brass chords that would swell and fade away, or he would underpin his music with repeating figures which push against the melody and counter-melody. Melodies often feature powerful modal implications (Dorian mode in Symphony 6). Influence of Renaissance polyphony. Often varied his movements in a piece by changing the note values of melodies, rather than the conventional change of tempi. Often draw out one melody over a number of notes, while playing a different melody in shorter rhythm. For example, his Seventh Symphony comprises four originally sketched movements fused into telescopical and partly parallel functions without pause, where every important theme is in C major or C minor; the variation comes from the time and rhythm. His harmonic language was often restrained, even iconoclastic, compared to many of his contemporaries who were already experimenting with musical Modernism. Celestial timbres.
Played 0 of tracks for this composer (total answers). Played blocks map:


04 - The Swan Of Tuonela No-3 Opus 22 (9m)
06 - Finlandia Opus 26 (8m)
07 - Karelia Suite Opus 11- Intermezzo (4m)
10 - Valse Triste Opus 44 (5m)
6 songs/(01) [Soile Isokoski Marita Viitasalo] - 6 songs - Varen flyktar hastigt (2m)
6 songs/(02) [Soile Isokoski Marita Viitasalo] - 6 songs - En slanda (4m)
6 songs/(03) [Soile Isokoski Marita Viitasalo] - 6 songs - Illalle (1m)
6 songs/(04) [Soile Isokoski Marita Viitasalo] - 6 songs - Vanskapens blomma (2m)
6 songs/(05) [Soile Isokoski Marita Viitasalo] - 6 songs - Den forsta kyssen (2m)
6 songs/(06) [Soile Isokoski Marita Viitasalo] - 6 songs - Flickan kom ifran sin alsklings mote (4m)
Violin Concerto Op.47 (1935) Heifetz Beecham 2006/01-Adagio di molto (7m)
Violin Concerto Op.47 (1935) Heifetz Beecham 2006/02-Allegro ma non tanto (7m)
Violin Concerto Op.47 (1935) Heifetz Beecham 2006/03-Allegro moderato (14m)
Symphony No 1 Op.39 (Ashkenazy Vladimir)/Symphony 1. 1 (11m)
Symphony No 1 Op.39 (Ashkenazy Vladimir)/Symphony 1. 2 (10m)
Symphony No 1 Op.39 (Ashkenazy Vladimir)/Symphony 1. 3 (6m)
Symphony No 1 Op.39 (Ashkenazy Vladimir)/Symphony 1. 4 (13m)
Symphony No 2 Op.43 (Berglund Paavo)/Symphony No. 2 in D Op. 43 (1891) - 1 Allegretto (9m)
Symphony No 2 Op.43 (Berglund Paavo)/Symphony No. 2 in D Op. 43 (1891) - 2 Tempo andante ma rubato (13m)
Symphony No 2 Op.43 (Berglund Paavo)/Symphony No. 2 in D Op. 43 (1891) - 3 Vivacissimo (6m)
Symphony No 2 Op.43 (Berglund Paavo)/Symphony No. 2 in D Op. 43 (1891) - 4 Finale (Allegro molto) (12m)
Symphony No 4 Op.63 (Collins Anthony)/Symphony No. 4 in A minor Op.63 - I. Tempo molto moderato quasi adagio (9m)
Symphony No 4 Op.63 (Collins Anthony)/Symphony No. 4 in A minor Op.63 - II. Allegro molto vivace (4m)
Symphony No 4 Op.63 (Collins Anthony)/Symphony No. 4 in A minor Op.63 - III. Il tempo largo (9m)
Symphony No 4 Op.63 (Collins Anthony)/Symphony No. 4 in A minor Op.63 - IV. Allegro (10m)
Symphony No 5 Op.82 (Rattle Simon)/Symphony No.5 - I. Tempo molto moderato - Allegro moderato - Presto (13m)
Symphony No 5 Op.82 (Rattle Simon)/Symphony No.5 - II. Andante mosso quasi allegretto (8m)
Symphony No 5 Op.82 (Rattle Simon)/Symphony No.5 - III. Allegro molto - Un pochettino largemente (9m)
Symphony No 6 Op.104 (Vanska Osmo)/Symphony No.6 In D Minor Op.104 1. Allegro Molto Moderato (9m)
Symphony No 6 Op.104 (Vanska Osmo)/Symphony No.6 In D Minor Op.104 2. Allegretto Moderato (7m)
Symphony No 6 Op.104 (Vanska Osmo)/Symphony No.6 In D Minor Op.104 3. Poco Vivace (3m)
Symphony No 6 Op.104 (Vanska Osmo)/Symphony No.6 In D Minor Op.104 4. Allegro Molto (9m)
Symphony No 7 Op.105 (Volmer Arvo)/Symphony No. 7 in C major Op. 105 (20m)
Tapiola Op.112 (Jarvi Neeme)/Tapiola Op.112 (20m)
Karelia suite - Alla marcia (4m)

Last comments for this composer:
Rualark
2015-06-28 10:45:08

Glazunov sounds more sweeping melodic, predictable, russian (although he has finnish fantasia).

Sibelius sounds more unpredictable (melody suddenly breaks or new one begins), dissonant, dark, atmospheric, unearthly, polyphonic, dissonant. Often Sibelius has repetitive back melodies.

Only Glazunov has piece for strings.

Only Sibelius has vocal, piano. (Glazunov, Sibelius)

Rualark
2015-06-28 10:41:12

Bruckner sounds more sweeping melodic, predictable.

Sibelius sounds more unpredictable (melody suddenly breaks or new one begins), dissonant, dark, atmospheric, unearthly, polyphonic, dissonant. Often Sibelius has repetitive back melodies.

Only Bruckner has mass in latin.

Only Sibelius has piano, violin concerto. (Bruckner, Sibelius)

Rualark
2015-06-22 10:23:25

This is a simple island.

Sibelius sounds more symphonic, sweeping, romantic, polyphonic, dissonance, dark.

J Williams sounds more film, energetic, simple. (Sibelius, J Williams)

Rualark
2015-06-16 22:46:32

Brahms sounds more repetitive, uniform, classical. Some piano pieces sound surprisingly cosmic, abstract.

Sibelius sounds more experimental, romantic, chaotic, polyphonic, atmospheric, dissonance, dark.

Only Brahms has piano+clarinet+cello, piano quintet, clarinet quintet, violin sonata. (Brahms, Sibelius)

Rualark
2015-05-11 18:34:21

Tchaikovsky sounds more simple russian melodic, dance, light.

Sibelius sounds more chaotic, polyphonic, atmospheric.

Sibelius violin concerts sound more energetic.

Only Tchaikovsky has piano in this game. Sibelius has only one female piano song. (Sibelius, Tchaikovsky)

Rualark
2015-05-05 22:41:39

Most difficult will be to distinguish Ravel and Debussy on this island.

(See my description for Ravel/Debussy island). (JS Bach, Debussy, Ravel, Sibelius)

Rualark
2015-03-09 21:52:01

Both composers use folk melodies extensively.

Mahler sounds more polyphonic, dissonant, broad.

Sibelius sounds more simple, repetitive, often developing melody over simple short notes rhythm.

Only Mahler has vocal with orchestra in this game.

Only Sibelius has violin concert in this game.

Use language to distinguish vocal pieces. (Mahler, Sibelius)

Rualark
2015-03-07 21:44:51

R Strauss sounds more polyphonic, dissonant.

Sibelius sounds more folk, simple, repetitive, melody over short rhythm.

Only R Strauss has opera, piano+instruments, horn concert in this game.

Only Sibelius has violin concert in this game.

Use language to distinguish vocal pieces. (Sibelius, R Strauss)

Rualark
2015-03-07 13:35:11

Compare two late romantic composers: czech Dvorák and finnish Sibelius.

Dvorák sounds more simple, romantic.

Sibelius sounds more comples, serious, even dissonant.

Only Dvorák has piano with instruments, opera, cello concerto, string quartet in this game.

Only Sibelius has piano song, violin concerto in this game.

I consider this a difficult island and I would be glad if someone posts useful guidelines here. (Dvorák, Sibelius)

Rualark
2015-03-07 10:22:14

Compare two of the most known late romantic scandinavian composers.

Grieg sounds more simple, romantic.

Sibelius sounds more complex, slow, serious, even dissonant.

Only Grieg has solo piano, piano concerto.

Only Sibelius has violin concerto. (Grieg, Sibelius)

Rualark
2015-03-06 09:05:27
1 1

Both composers use folk melodies extensively.

Rimsky-Korsakov sounds more romantic, oriental.

Sibelius sounds more serious, wide.

Beware of Sibelius Valse and Suite, which sound light.

Although only Sibelius has violin concert, Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade can sound like violin concerto sometimes.

I consider this a difficult island and I would be glad if someone posts useful guidelines here. (Rimsky-Korsakov, Sibelius)

Rualark
2015-03-02 21:32:31

Fauré sounds more simple, harmonic, naive.

Sibelius sounds more serious, deep, wide, darker, but folklore melodic at the same time.

Only Fauré has solo piano, piano concert, piano+violin in this game.

Only Sibelius has violin concerto, symphony in this game.

Beware of Fauré Pelleas et Melisandre, which sounds wide and deep. (Fauré, Sibelius)

Rualark
2015-02-23 18:51:42
1

Only Shostakovich has piano, cello concerto in this game.

Only Sibelius has violin concerto in this game.

Shostakovich sounds more dissonant, abrupt, fugue, dark, tragic.

Sibelius sounds more simple, folk, sometimes dancing, but often broad.

Use language to guess vocal pieces. (Shostakovich, Sibelius)

Showing 100 last comments

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