A couple of months later Sibelius returned to this movement to pen the second theme, which was entitled ‘Christus’ – perhaps reflecting the death and resurrection of this movement. It was death.”įrom this came the opening bassoon theme of the second movement. At last the stranger began to sing – then Don Juan knew who it was. I tried to make him laugh but he remained silent. I asked who he could be again and again – but there was no answer. I was sitting in the dark in my castle when a stranger entered. Sat in his villa in Italy, Sibelius wrote: Inspiration from the story of Don Juan features in the second movement. The exciting twists and turns of this opening movement leads to a rousing coda section that showcases this main theme in some great glory. “I admired the symphony’s severity of style and the profound logic that created an inner connection between all the motifs.”Īs the movement becomes more dramatic through Sibelius’ rich textures and unconventional harmonic language, this three-note motif returns in different guises. The opening three-note motif is threaded throughout the whole symphony, but in the first instance is gentle and optimistic in style. The opening of Sibelius’ Second is perhaps the closest material that reflects the pastoral style made so famous by Beethoven. Set into four movements, the Second Symphony is Sibelius’ longest symphony, clocking in at around 45 minutes in duration. “There is something about this music – at least for us – that leads us to ecstasy almost like a sharman with his magic drum!” Fellow Finnish composer Sulho Ranta commented on the symphony saying: The symphony has unofficially been dubbed as the ‘Symphony of Independence’ as many saw it as a representation of Finland’s struggle for independence. Whereas the audience members enjoyed the symphony for its grandiose style, in particular the finale movement, critics questioned the stylings and what Sibelius’ message was, if any. Sibelius confessed that his Second Symphony “is a confession of the soul”.Īlthough the first handful of performances sold out, critics seemed divided on the symphony itself. Sibelius conducted the first three performances of the symphony and after three sold-out performances, he began to make revisions. It took Sibelius nearly a year to pen the whole symphony, which was then premiered by the Helsinki Philharmonic Society in March 1902. Baron Axel Carpelan raised funds for Sibelius to take this trip, and it was in this villa that he started work on his Second Symphony. In 1901, Jean Sibelius left his home country and travelled to Italy and stayed in a mountain villa near Rapallo.
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