The Snowshoed Sibelius

[North Star]

Okay, I see he owns Symphonies 2, 3, 5 (Original Version), 6, and 7. I still would like hear what exactly he owns, though as I'm unclear if he just owns Symphony No. 5 in the original version and if also owns the revised version?

A friend also kindly bought me a box set of lesser-known works too. I have the original version of Symphony 5 and the final version and very recently the original and final version of the Violin Concerto - these performances, especially of the original version of the VC made me appreciate these works properly for the first time.

[Mirror Image]

Okay, kudos, Karlo. Now, all he's lacking is the 1st and 4th.

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Now, all he's lacking is the 1st and 4th.

Tsk, tsk. How is it possible to lack those two?

[North Star]

Tsk, tsk. How is it possible to lack those two?

Briefly, I hope. 

[asin]B0000265CH[/asin]

[Mirror Image]

Tsk, tsk. How is it possible to lack those two?

If a person is collecting the individual recordings from the Vanska series, it's very likely to be missing something.

ATTENTION JEFFREY:

Check and see if you own this recording:



Because if you do not, you should buy it ASAP. It's a marvelous collection and everything, as expected, is performed to perfection. This particular recording was a disc featured in my Sibelius Edition: Tone Poems set and I liked it so well that I bought my dad a copy second-hand from an Amazon MP seller for dirt cheap. Needless to say, he LOVED the recording.

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Who do you think is greater tone poet,  R. Strauss or Sibelius?

I'll have to say: a tie. Those two have greatest tone poems of all time and it seems impossible for me to prefer one over another. Both have one tone poem I'm not that much into yet, though (The Bard, Symphonia domestica).

Equally hard question is: who is a greater composer? They certainly had a good opinion of each other, Strauss confessing Sibelius is only Scandinavian composer whose music has depth, and, reportedly, said that Sibelius is greater, even though Strauss has "more skill". And when Sibelius was asked which are the greatest composers of 20th century, he answered "Richard Strauss, Bartok and Schostakovich".

[Karl Henning]

Tsk, tsk. How is it possible to lack those two?

Well, this does invite a philosophical question:  Isn't it okay not to know the First (can one still "be a fan of Sibelius")?

[vandermolen]

That's an excellent recording. I still maintain that Vanska's 6th was my 'breakthrough' with the symphony. A lighter feel and not so heavy-handed is the way this symphony should be performed IMHO. Also, those are awesome performances of Tapiola and Symphony No. 7. Do you own the whole symphony series from Vanska yet, Jeffrey?

Not yet John. I am assembling them in bits and pieces.

[vandermolen]

If a person is collecting the individual recordings from the Vanska series, it's very likely to be missing something.

ATTENTION JEFFREY:

Check and see if you own this recording:



Because if you do not, you should buy it ASAP. It's a marvelous collection and everything, as expected, is performed to perfection. This particular recording was a disc featured in my Sibelius Edition: Tone Poems set and I liked it so well that I bought my dad a copy second-hand from an Amazon MP seller for dirt cheap. Needless to say, he LOVED the recording.

Thank you John. I have been considering this CD for some time. My only reservation was that it did not include Tapiola, but as I have now ordered that with symphonies 6 and 7; so I'm sure that this will enter my collection very soon. 

[Karl Henning]

Well, and that does look very nice.

[Madiel]

Well, this does invite a philosophical question:  Isn't it okay not to know the First (can one still "be a fan of Sibelius")?

The recurring suggestion in some quarters that the first two symphonies are somehow not "Sibelian", as if they're immature works, absolutely bewilders me. There are extraordinary, masterful things in both of them.

PS I actually have the tone poems disc that Mirror Image is now spruiking. I don't generally have any versions to compare it to... I'd have to say, I prefer Ashkenazy's En Saga to Vanska's but it's not as if I'm unhappy with anything on the CD.

[Mirror Image]

Thank you John. I have been considering this CD for some time. My only reservation was that it did not include Tapiola, but as I have now ordered that with symphonies 6 and 7; so I'm sure that this will enter my collection very soon. 

Yes, you'll have Tapiola with that recording of Symphonies Nos. 6 & 7. This tone poems recording is just fantastic. Superb from start to finish.

[Mirror Image]

The recurring suggestion in some quarters that the first two symphonies are somehow not "Sibelian", as if they're immature works, absolutely bewilders me. There are extraordinary, masterful things in both of them.

+1

[Karl Henning]

The recurring suggestion in some quarters that the first two symphonies are somehow not "Sibelian", as if they're immature works, absolutely bewilders me. There are extraordinary, masterful things in both of them.

I don't think there is anything immature about the First;  I rather like the First.  But it does not tug at my affections with anything like the strength of the later symphonies.

[Mirror Image]

Who do you think is greater tone poet,  R. Strauss or Sibelius?

I'll have to say: a tie. Those two have greatest tone poems of all time and it seems impossible for me to prefer one over another. Both have one tone poem I'm not that much into yet, though (The Bard, Symphonia domestica).

Equally hard question is: who is a greater composer? They certainly had a good opinion of each other, Strauss confessing Sibelius is only Scandinavian composer whose music has depth, and, reportedly, said that Sibelius is greater, even though Strauss has "more skill". And when Sibelius was asked which are the greatest composers of 20th century, he answered "Richard Strauss, Bartok and Schostakovich".

I don't know about 'greater' but I prefer Sibelius to Strauss by a country mile even though I do love many of Strauss' works. I've thought about that quote from Strauss where he said "He (Sibelius) is great but I have more skill" and I disagree with it. Sibelius had just as much skill, perhaps even more so, than Strauss or any composer. Sibelius was a remarkable orchestrator and knew exactly how to pull the sounds he was going for from the orchestra.

[Madiel]

Not entirely random observation while trying to piece together a more sensible chronology of works for my own use.

It would seem that the much talked-about Origin of Fire, op.32 is actually a kind of pair with Impromptu, op.19.

Of course you wouldn't think this from the damn opus numbers. However, both were originally composed and performed in 1902, and both were revised in 1910. One is for male choir and orchestra, the other for female choir and orchestra.

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Sibelius was a remarkable orchestrator and knew exactly how to pull the sounds he was going for from the orchestra.

+1

I never really understood why Sibelius's music is often described as joyless, depressing, grey etc. Have they listened to his compositions really at all?

[Mirror Image]

Not entirely random observation while trying to piece together a more sensible chronology of works for my own use.

It would seem that the much talked-about Origin of Fire, op.32 is actually a kind of pair with Impromptu, op.19.

Of course you wouldn't think this from the damn opus numbers. However, both were originally composed and performed in 1902, and both were revised in 1910. One is for male choir and orchestra, the other for female choir and orchestra.

The only problem I'm having with Sibelius and trying to get some kind of grip on him is his maddening chronology of opuses and trying to tie them together in my own mind in the correct order. I'll have to re-listen to Impromptu, Op. 19, I'm sure I've heard heard it before, but a refresher wouldn't hurt.

[Mirror Image]

+1

I never really understood why Sibelius's music is often described as joyless, depressing, grey etc. Have they listened to his compositions really at all?

It does make a person wonder. Anyone with any kind of familiarity with Sibelius' music knows that this isn't the case at all.

[Elgarian]

I don't think there is anything immature about the First;  I rather like the First.  But it does not tug at my affections with anything like the strength of the later symphonies.

I don't think I'd know what an immature symphony sounds like, but I do know the impact the first symphony had on me when I was nobbut a lad, hearing Sibelius for the first time. Kapow!, it was. The others are wonderful of course, but the first is still my tiptop favourite of the seven, immature or not.