JEAN SIBELIUS Rakastava ( The Lover )
“ Pay no attention to what the critics say ; no statue has ever been erected to a critic .” – Sibelius
ABOUT THE COMPOSER
Born 1865 in Hämeenlinna , Finland ; died 1957 in Jarvenpaa , Finland
• Sibelius was raised by his uncle . Serving as both a father figure and musical advisor , his uncle gave Sibelius a violin when he was a boy . At the onset of his career , Sibelius was set on becoming a great violin virtuoso but later refocused his energies on composing .
• Sibelius was known for his symphonies and tone poems . He loved nature , and landscapes often served as inspirations for his musical works . He once said of his sixth symphony , “ It always reminds me of the scent of the first snow .”
• Sibelius ’ music helped develop a national sound for Finland . The composer was moved to incorporate patriotic themes as a response to his country fighting for independence from Russian rule . As a result , Sibelius was seen as a national hero and cultural icon .
THE WORLD AT A GLANCE
1912
MUSIC Sergei Prokofiev ’ s Piano Concerto No . 1
ARCHAEOLOGY The Nefertiti bust is found in Egypt
FUN FACT
For a time , Sibelius was featured on the Finnish 100-mark bill .
LITERATURE H . G . Wells ’ Marriage
ABOUT THE PIECE
• Rakastava , which translates to The Lover , is an orchestral suite written by Sibelius in 1912 . The work was based on a composition by Sibelius with the same name that was written for a men ’ s a cappella choir 18 years earlier .
• The suite is based on the Kanteletar , a collection of Finnish folk poetry that served as a frequent source of inspiration for Sibelius .
ART Henri Matisse ’ s The Conversation
HISTORY The Republic of China is established
16 BALTIMORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA