Jean Sibelius

Johan Julius Christian Sibelius (December 8, 1865 – September 20, 1957) was a Finnish composer of classical music and violinist. Together with the work of Johan Ludvig Runeberg, Sibelius' music is synonymous with Finnish national identity.

Related Topics:
December 8 - 1865 - September 20 - 1957 - Finnish - Composer - Classical music - Johan Ludvig Runeberg

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Jean Sibelius was born in 1865 into a Finland-Swedish family in Hämeenlinna in the Russian Grand Duchy of Finland. His family consciously decided to send Jean to an important Finnish language school. This should be seen as part of the larger rise of the Fennoman movement, an expression of Romantic Nationalism which was to become a crucial part of Sibelius' artistic output and politics.

Related Topics:
1865 - Finland-Swedish - Hämeenlinna - Russian - Grand Duchy of Finland - Finnish language - Fennoman - Romantic Nationalism

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His most famous compositions are probably Finlandia, Valse Triste, the violin concerto, the Karelia suite and The Swan of Tuonela (a movement from his Lemminkäinen suite), but he wrote much else besides, including other pieces inspired by the Kalevala, seven numbered symphonies, over a hundred songs for voice and piano, incidental music for 13 separate plays, an opera (Jungfrun i tornet, which remains unpublished), chamber music including a string quartet, piano music, 21 separate publications of choral music, and Masonic ritual music.

Related Topics:
Finlandia - Violin concerto - The Swan of Tuonela - Kalevala - Symphonies - Song - Piano - Incidental music - Opera - Masonic

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The Finnish graphic designer Erik Bruun used Jean Sibelius as the motive for the 100 markka note in Finland's last-ever markka series.

Related Topics:
Graphic designer - Erik Bruun - Markka

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