Jean Sibelius - Sibelius Edition, Vol. 4 - Piano Music I

Finland's Jean Sibelius is perhaps the most important composer associated with nationalism in music and one of the most influential in the development of the symphony and symphonic poem. Sibelius was born in southern Finland, the second of three children. His physician father left the family bankrupt, owing to his financial extravagance, a trait that, along with heavy drinking, he would pass on to Jean. Jean showed talent on the violin and at age nine composed his first work for it, Rain Drops. In 1885 Sibelius entered the University of Helsinki to study law, but after only a year found himself drawn back to music. He took up composition studies with Martin Wegelius and violin with Mitrofan Wasiliev, then Hermann Csillag. During this time he also became a close friend of Busoni. Though Sibelius auditioned for the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, he would come to realize he was not suited to a career as a violinist.
In 1889 Sibelius traveled to Berlin to study counterpoint with Albert Becker, where he also was exposed to new music, particularly that of Richard Strauss. In Vienna he studied with Karl Goldmark and then Robert Fuchs, the latter said to be his most effective teacher. Now Sibelius began pondering the composition of the Kullervo Symphony, based on the Kalevala legends. Sibelius returned to Finland, taught music, and in June 1892, married Aino Järnefelt, daughter of General Alexander Järnefelt, head of one of the most influential families in Finland. The premiere of Kullervo in April 1893 created a veritable sensation, Sibelius thereafter being looked upon as the foremost Finnish composer. The Lemminkäinen suite, begun in 1895 and premiered on April 13, 1896, has come to be regarded as the most important music by Sibelius up to that time.
In 1897 the Finnish Senate voted to pay Sibelius a short-term pension, which some years later became a lifetime conferral. The honor was in lieu of his loss of an important professorship in composition at the music school, the position going to Robert Kajanus. The year 1899 saw the premiere of Sibelius' First Symphony, which was a tremendous success, to be sure, but not quite of the magnitude of that of Finlandia (1899; rev. 1900).
In the next decade Sibelius would become an international figure in the concert world. Kajanus introduced several of the composer's works abroad; Sibelius himself was invited to Heidelberg and Berlin to conduct his music. In March 1901, the Second Symphony was received as a statement of independence for Finland, although Sibelius always discouraged attaching programmatic ideas to his music. His only concerto, for violin, came in 1903. The next year Sibelius built a villa outside of Helsinki, named "Ainola" after his wife, where he would live for his remaining 53 years. After a 1908 operation to remove a throat tumor, Sibelius was implored to abstain from alcohol and tobacco, a sanction he followed until 1915. It is generally believed that the darkening of mood in his music during these years owes something to the health crisis.
Sibelius made frequent trips to England, having visited first in 1905 at the urging of Granville Bantock. In 1914 he traveled to Norfolk, CT, where he conducted his newest work The Oceanides. Sibelius spent the war years in Finland working on his Fifth Symphony. Sibelius traveled to England for the last time in 1921. Three years later he completed his Seventh Symphony, and his last work was the incidental music for The Tempest (1925). For his last 30 years Sibelius lived a mostly quiet life, working only on revisions and being generally regarded as the greatest living composer of symphonies. In 1955 his 90th birthday was widely celebrated throughout the world with many performances of his music. Sibelius died of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1957.

From Allmusic

Tracks CD 1:

01. Scherzo in E major with Trio in E minor, JS 134K1a [0:02:43.17]
02. Con moto, sempre una corda in D flat major, JS 52 [0:03:45.38]
03. Andante in E flat major, JS 74 [0:03:09.39]
04. Menuetto in A minor, JS 5 [0:01:24.46]
05. Tempo di valse in A major, JS 2 [0:01:06.27]
06. Scherzo in E major with Trio in A minor, JS 134K1b [0:02:17.31]
07. 11 Variations on a harmonic formula in D major [0:10:26.67]
08. Waltz in D minor [0:01:09.32]
09. Andantino in B flat major [0:01:24.28]
10. 50 Short Pieces, "A Catalogue of Themes" - No. 1 in G major: Andante cantabile [0:00:13.14]
11. No. 2 in C minor: Moderato [0:00:12.02]
12. No. 3 in C / G minor: Moderato [0:00:15.00]
13. No. 4 in A major: Allegretto [0:00:11.00]
14. No. 5 in A minor: Andantino [0:00:13.14]
15. No. 6 in C / G major: Andante [0:00:14.29]
16. No. 7 in F major: Adagio [0:00:15.07]
17. No. 8 in B minor: Andante [0:00:14.09]
18. No. 9 in G minor: Allegro risoluto [0:00:10.02]
19. No. 10 in C / A minor: Adagio [0:00:11.66]
20. No. 11 in G minor: Moderato [0:00:11.25]
21. No. 12 in C / D major: Alla marcia [0:00:11.18]
22. No. 13 in B flat major: Andante [0:00:11.70]
23. No. 14 in C / G major: Allegro con spirito [0:00:10.13]
24. No. 15 in C / D major: Adagio [0:00:21.16]
25. No. 16 in C / A flat major: Allegro moderato [0:00:16.40]
26. No. 17 in C / C major: Allegro giocoso [0:00:17.00]
27. No. 18 in C / B flat major: Allegretto [0:00:12.65]
28. No. 19 in A major: Tempo di valse [0:00:18.12]
29. No. 20 in D minor: Allegro con fuoco [0:00:12.47]
30. No. 21 in G major: Allegro [0:00:14.09]
31. No. 22 in D minor: Allegro con fuoco [0:00:15.69]
32. No. 23 in C sharp minor: Allegretto [0:00:16.05]
33. No. 24 in G major: Andante cantabile (elaboration of No. 1) [0:00:17.20]
34. No. 25 in C / C minor: Moderato (elaboration of No. 2) [0:00:18.39]
35. No. 26 in A minor: Andantino (elaboration of No. 5) [0:00:21.55]
36. No. 27 in C / G major: Andante (elaboration of No. 6) [0:00:21.65]
37. No. 28 in C / G minor: Allegro risoluto (elaboration of No. 9) [0:00:14.68]
38. No. 29 in B flat major: Andante (elaboration of No. 13) [0:00:17.38]
39. No. 30 in C / G major: Allegro con spirito (elaboration of No. 14) [0:00:14.43]
40. No. 31 in C / D major: Adagio (elaboration of No. 15) [0:00:36.48]
41. No. 32 in C / A flat major: Allegro moderato (elaboration of No. 16) [0:00:25.61]
42. No. 33. in G major: Andante cantabile (elaboration of Nos. 1 and 24) [0:00:25.40]
43. No. 34 in C / C major: Moderato [0:00:23.34]
44. No. 35 in B flat minor: Allegretto [0:00:34.45]
45. No. 36 in C / D major: Moderato [0:00:29.05]
46. No. 37 in C / C minor: Moderato (elaboration of Nos. 2 and 25) [0:00:27.61]
47. No. 38 in E major: Andantino [0:00:41.45]
48. No. 39 in E major: Andantino (elaboration of No. 38) [0:00:40.02]
49. No. 40 in B flat minor: Mazurka [0:00:18.64]
50. No. 41 in C / D major: Adagio [0:00:30.28]
51. No. 42 in A minor: Allegro inquieto [0:00:24.74]
52. No. 43 in E major: Alla polacca [0:00:21.58]
53. No. 44 in C / E minor: Andante mesto [0:00:36.58]
54. No. 45 in C / G major: Andantino [0:00:32.69]
55. No. 46 in C minor: Ballade [0:00:32.69]
56. No. 47 in C major: Allegro [0:00:22.18]
57. No. 48 in D minor: Allegretto rustico [0:00:23.30]
58. No. 49 in C / G major: Commodo [0:00:27.37]
59. No. 50 in E major: Andantino (elaboration of Nos. 38 and 39) [0:02:11.46]
60. To Longing, JS 203 - Poem: Tvenne lagar styra menniskolifvet… (Two laws govern human life …) [0:01:15.38]
61. Piano: Largo - Andante [0:04:06.41]
62. Poem: Ser du hafvet? … (Do you see the sea? …) [0:01:06.13]
63. Piano: Andantino [0:03:21.48]
64. Poem: Hor du vinden? … (Do you hear the wind? …) [0:00:43.28]
65. Piano: Molto allegro - Andante - Adagio cantabile [0:03:34.34]
66. Poem: Vad ar varen? … (What is the spring? …) [0:00:40.26]
67. Piano: Allegro - Andantino - Moderato - Andante - Poco adagio - Allegretto [0:02:13.04]
68. Poem: Menska, vill du livets vishet lara … (Mankind, do you wish to learn …) [0:00:48.39]
69. Piano: Largo [0:02:34.55]
70. Andante in E flat major, JS 30a [0:04:12.23]
71. Aubade in A flat major, JS 46 [0:02:58.63]
72. Au crepuscule in A flat major, JS 47 [0:02:00.52]
73. 5 Short Pieces - No. 1 in F sharp minor [0:00:30.62]
74. No. 2 in E major [0:00:33.71]
75. No. 3 in F minor [0:01:04.65]
76. No. 4 in E flat major [0:00:22.18]
77. No. 5 in C major [0:01:51.69]

Tracks CD 2:

01. Andantino in B major, JS 44 [0:01:29.33]
02. Allegretto in B flat minor, JS 18 [0:01:07.46]
03. Allegro in F minor [0:00:49.51]
04. Waltz in E major [0:01:07.67]
05. Tempo di valse in E flat major, JS 150 [0:03:24.18]
06. Waltz in F minor [0:00:35.70]
07. Andantino in E major, JS 41 [0:02:05.49]
08. Presto in A minor, JS 6 [0:01:05.22]
09. Allegretto in G minor, JS 24 [0:00:55.05]
10. Moderato and Presto, JS 133 [0:01:35.18]
11. Allegro in E major [0:00:24.07]
12. O, om du sett (Oh, If You Had Seen), JS 141 [0:04:33.22]
13. Largo in A major, JS 117 [0:04:10.65]
14. Vivace in D minor, JS 221 [0:02:42.61]
15. Adagio in D major, JS 11 [0:04:13.00]
16. 3 Fugue expositions in D minor [0:01:40.65]
17. Polka in E flat major, JS 75 [0:01:13.62]
18. Florestan, JS 82 - I. Moderato [0:01:37.60]
19. II. Molto moderato [0:02:24.42]
20. III. Andante [0:04:09.00]
21. IV. Tempo I [0:02:14.05]
22. Allegretto in E major, JS 21 [0:01:39.42]
23. Waltz in A flat major, JS 1, "A Betsy Lerche" [0:04:15.34]
24. Piano Sonata in D minor, JS 179a (fragment) [0:06:57.44]
25. 2 Sonata Sketches [0:00:50.46]
26. 11 Sonata Sketches [0:02:21.55]
27. Piano Sonata in F minor, JS 179b (fragment) [0:04:11.38]
28. Piano Sonata in C major, JS 179c (fragment) [0:01:37.04]
29. Piano Sonata in E major, JS 179d (fragment) [0:05:09.18]
30. Piano Sonata in C minor, JS 179e (fragment) (with recapitulation by Kalevi Aho) [0:03:46.47]
31. Polka in E minor (fragment) [0:00:25.23]
32. Mazurka in D minor (fragment) [0:00:30.13]
33. Scherzo in F sharp minor, JS 164 [0:02:14.43]

Tracks CD 3:

01. Menuetto in B flat major [0:02:47.52]
02. Waltz in D flat major [0:02:17.20]
03. 6 Impromptus, Op. 5 - No. 1 in G minor [0:01:56.17]
04. No. 2 in G minor [0:01:56.28]
05. No. 3 in A minor [0:02:37.07]
06. No. 4 in E minor [0:02:10.44]
07. No. 5 in B minor [0:03:41.17]
08. No. 6 in E major [0:06:10.05]
09. Karelia Suite, Op. 11 (excerpts) - I. Intermezzo: Moderato [0:03:08.68]
10. II. Ballade: Tempo di menuetto [0:06:50.60]
11. Piano Sonata in F major, Op. 12 - I. Allegro molto [0:05:55.72]
12. II. Andantino [0:07:01.01]
13. III. Vivacissimo [0:04:17.31]
14. The Wood Nymph, Op. 15 (arr. for piano) [0:03:22.74]
15. Allegretto in F major, JS 23 [0:02:41.49]
16. Caprizzio in B flat minor [0:02:12.36]
17. Lento in E major, JS 119 [0:03:28.17]
18. Allegretto in G minor, JS 225 [0:01:11.73]
19. 10 Pieces, Op. 24 (excerpts) - No. 3. Caprice [0:02:04.23]
20. No. 7. Andantino [0:03:35.56]
21. Menuetto in B flat major [0:01:48.60]
22. Marche triste in E minor, JS 124 [0:05:34.31]
23. Allegro in G minor [0:01:28.45]
24. Kavaljeren (The Cavalier), JS 109 [0:01:41.24]

Tracks CD 4:

01. 10 Pieces, Op. 24: Andantino in F major (preliminary version of Idyll, Op. 24, No. 6) [0:02:41.59]
02. 10 Pieces, Op. 24 - No. 1. Impromptu [0:04:56.70]
03. No. 2. Romance [0:06:56.06]
04. No. 3. Caprice [0:03:11.49]
05. No. 4. Romance [0:03:53.27]
06. No. 5. Valse [0:02:22.32]
07. No. 6. Idylle [0:04:05.43]
08. No. 7. Andantino [0:03:51.48]
09. No. 8. Nocturno [0:03:40.30]
10. No. 9. Romance [0:03:50.67]
11. No. 10. Barcarola [0:04:55.26]
12. 10 Pieces, Op. 24: No. 6. Idylle (second version) [0:04:10.61]
13. Finlandia, Op. 26 (version for piano) [0:08:55.19]
14. King Kristian II, Op. 27 (arr. for piano) - I. Elegy [0:04:37.01]
15. II. Minuet [0:01:42.16]
16. III. Musette [0:02:12.30]
17. IV. Sangen om korsspindeln (Fool's Song of the Spider) [0:04:24.53]
18. 3 Sketches - No. 1 in B flat minor [0:00:42.05]
19. No. 2 in D flat major [0:00:28.42]
20. No. 3 in C major [0:00:32.45]
21. Largamente in D minor [0:01:22.07]
22. Har du mod? (Have You Courage?), Op. 31, No. 2 (arr. for piano) [0:01:54.14]
23. Atenarnes sang (Song of the Athenians), Op. 31, No. 3 (arr. for piano) [0:02:59.54]

Tracks CD 5:

01. 6 Finnish Folksongs, JS 81 - No. 1. My darling [0:01:37.49]
02. No .2. From my heart I love you [0:01:49.06]
03. No. 3. The evening is coming [0:01:15.59]
04. No. 4. The maiden is playing the Kantele [0:01:13.14]
05. No. 5. The fratricide [0:01:46.60]
06. No. 6. The wedding remembrance [0:01:29.22]
07. 6 Finnish Folksongs, JS 81: No. 1. My darling [0:01:36.02]
08. Adagio in C major [0:00:45.66]
09. Polka in C minor, "Aino" [0:00:29.26]
10. 10 Little Pieces, Op. 34: No. 4. Couplet (first version) [0:01:41.42]
11. 10 Little Pieces, Op. 34 - No. 1. Valse [0:01:50.01]
12. No. 2. Air de danse [0:00:55.19]
13. No. 3. Mazurka [0:01:17.48]
14. No. 4. Couplet [0:01:23.13]
15. No. 5. Boutade [0:01:36.62]
16. No. 6. Reverie [0:02:44.33]
17. No. 7. Danse pastorale [0:01:05.42]
18. No. 8. Joueur de harpe [0:02:15.13]
19. No. 9. Reconnaissance [0:00:56.56]
20. No. 10. Souvenir [0:02:25.02]
21. Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 39 (preliminary piano transcription): II. Andante (ma non troppo lento) [0:02:46.64]
22. 10 Pensees lyriques, Op. 40 - No. 1. Valsette [0:00:51.34]
23. No. 2. Chant sans paroles [0:02:25.16]
24. No. 3. Humoresque [0:01:05.08]
25. No. 4. Minuetto [0:02:16.29]
26. No. 5. Berceuse [0:02:02.55]
27. No. 6. Pensee melodique [0:01:57.12]
28. No. 7. Rondoletto [0:01:34.06]
29. No. 8. Scherzando [0:00:58.66]
30. No. 9. Petite serenade [0:02:15.13]
31. No. 10. Polonaise (Alla polacca) [0:01:57.16]
32. Kyllikki, Op. 41 - No. 1. Largamente - Allegro [0:02:54.70]
33. No. 2. Andantino [0:04:26.59]
34. No. 3. Commodo [0:03:14.15]
35. Valse triste, Op. 44, No. 1 (preliminary piano transcription) [0:04:49.27]
36. Valse triste, Op. 44, No. 1 (version for piano) [0:04:58.00]
37. The Dryad, Op. 45, No. 1 (version for piano) [0:05:19.44]
38. Dance Intermezzo, Op. 45, No. 2 (version for piano) [0:03:05.67]