"Sibelius, the Worst Composer in the World"

[hpowders]

The "worst composer in the world" seems to have written the world's greatest violin concerto. 

[Dancing Divertimentian]

The "worst composer in the world" seems to have written the world's greatest violin concerto. 

Hear, hear!!

[hpowders]

Hear, hear!!

I'm glad someone on GMG agrees with me!

Also, how could the world's worst composer write one of the greatest of all 20th century symphonies?
I'm referring to the epic, soaring No. 7. 

[North Star]

The "worst composer in the world" seems to have written the world's greatest violin concerto. 

I agree, even though I do think it sounds a bit rash to name one piece to tower over the rest in a genre where there are many fine works. But it's hard to think of a violin concerto that is as good at being a violin concerto as the Sibelius is.

I'm glad someone on GMG agrees with me!

Also, how could the world's worst composer write one of the greatest of all 20th century symphonies?
I'm referring to the epic, soaring No. 7. 

One of them? As fas as I'm concerned, Nos. 3, 4, 5 & 6 are among the greatest of the century, too. 

[Jo498]

TBH except for the first few minutes I find the violin concerto a fairly standard late romantic thing, not nearly as interesting and original as the symphonies and I easily prefer a bunch of other violin concertos. It would have been interesting if Sibelius had written another violin concerto 20 years later...

[Mahlerian]

TBH except for the first few minutes I find the violin concerto a fairly standard late romantic thing, not nearly as interesting and original as the symphonies and I easily prefer a bunch of other violin concertos. It would have been interesting if Sibelius had written another violin concerto 20 years later...

Or during the period of Luonnotar and the Fourth Symphony!  That would be something.

[bhodges]

And Sibelius is not a conservative composer, he is a radical one. He's just not radical in the way that was approved by the avant garde atonal mob. He still believed in tonality, and to them that meant "conservative" despite that the fact that in matters of structure and development, Sibelius was crazy-radical.

This is still the comment that strikes me as the truest, and shows that Leibowitz, for all his strengths, missed the boat on this one. (Not something I would hold against him for eternity -- 1955 was a long time ago. Plus, history is filled with bad calls, later reversed by time.)

"Worst in the world" certainly has many more competitors for that honor.  (Karl Jenkins, anyone?)

--Bruce

[hpowders]

I agree, even though I do think it sounds a bit rash to name one piece to tower over the rest in a genre where there are many fine works. But it's hard to think of a violin concerto that is as good at being a violin concerto as the Sibelius is.One of them? As fas as I'm concerned, Nos. 3, 4, 5 & 6 are among the greatest of the century, too. 

I will agree with you on 3 & 6. Pithy and to the point sort of like....

[North Star]

I will agree with you on 3 & 6. Pithy and to the point sort of like....

I'm glad to see so high an opinion of the 3rd. Often it seems to be somewhat overlooked in comparison with the last four.

[hpowders]

I'm glad to see so high an opinion of the 3rd. Often it seems to be somewhat overlooked in comparison with the last four.

I have the Davis/BSO set and for me 3 & 6 are the best performances of the set.

[Sergeant Rock]

I'm glad to see so high an opinion of the 3rd. Often it seems to be somewhat overlooked in comparison with the last four.

The Third, Mrs. Rock's favorite. Before we married, while we were still dating, I bought her a LP box of Sibelius Symphonies (Kamu/Karajan). She started with 1, then 2, then 3, then 3 again, and again, and again.... It was several years later before she progressed beyond 3 

Sarge

[Sergeant Rock]

I have the Davis/BSO set and for me 3 & 6 are the best performances of the set.

Ah, that Davis/BSO Sixth...perfection.

Sage

[bhodges]

Am a big fan of 3 as well. When Vänskä and Minnesota came here recently, they did Nos. 3 and 1, in that order, with Hilary Hahn in the VC in between.

--Bruce

[Dancing Divertimentian]

TBH except for the first few minutes I find the violin concerto a fairly standard late romantic thing, not nearly as interesting and original as the symphonies and I easily prefer a bunch of other violin concertos. It would have been interesting if Sibelius had written another violin concerto 20 years later...

What other canonical work do you feel doesn't deserve its stature, Jo?

[hpowders]

Ah, that Davis/BSO Sixth...perfection.

Sage

Yes. I've never heard a better Sibelius 6 than C. Davis/BSO.

[Jo498]

What other canonical work do you feel doesn't deserve its stature, Jo?

I don't say the violin concerto does not deserve its stature as an important work and a staple of the violin concerto repertoire (but so does the Bruch 1st...).
But it's news to me that it is widely regarded as the best violin concerto ever. There would be classics Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Brahms, for me also Bach, from the 20th century at least Berg, Bartok, Stravinsky, Shostakovich and Prokofieff 1st all of which I think are more interesting pieces. I'd also say that comparably late/post romantic/early modern works like the Szymanowski concertos are rather underrated compared to the Sibelius.

Also in the context of Sibelius' oeuvre I do find it a fairly standard late romantic piece, even more so than the first two symphonies. Except for the "spooky" beginning I do not find it terribly original, I am afraid. To me it seems closer to the Grieg piano concerto as an effective but not terribly interesting mix of folksy stuff and "nordic" atmosphere than to either the "serious" symphonic concerto of Brahms or the extraordinary colorful Prokofiev 1st.

[The new erato]

I'll have to side with you. I'm a great lover of Sibelius, but find the violin concerto too conventional and lacking what I otherwise find fascinating in Sibelius.

[PerfectWagnerite]

I'll have to side with you. I'm a great lover of Sibelius, but find the violin concerto too conventional and lacking what I otherwise find fascinating in Sibelius.

The opening is rather atmospheric, then it sort of goes down-hill. Finale is the worst, melody isn't all that interesting.

[Muse Wanderer]

As I listen to Sibelius' String Quartet in D minor 'Voces Intimae' I am amazed at his originality and individuality even in this chamber work. At first I was expecting something like his first SQ but this was leagues better. The instruments are rendered as individual voices speaking in unison or at each other. It is of interest that this chamber work was composed just before his 4th symphony.

Sibelius 4th symphony delved my mind into a world that no other composer had envisaged before. Its 3rd movement felt like being shown the way towards a light leading to a metaphorical holy grail. The 4th propelled me towards unknown reaches of my mind with the enigmatic ending leading the way to the fantastic 5th, sublime 6th and majestic 7th. Tapiola distilled all his achievements into a stupefying rhythmic breathtaking finale.

Needless to say I absolutely love this composer! When I managed to listen and 'understand' his symphonic works, I was left with a void as no one will replicate what Sibelius has achieved.

All good things come to an end.

[San Antone]

There must be something to Sibelius's worth as a composer; in several interviews Morton Feldman testified that he was an important and more "radical" composer than given credit.

For myself, I've still not cracked the nut of his music.  But I'm nore of a chamber music lover than orchestral, anyway.