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From: cmpbsdb@gitpyr.UUCP (Don Barry)
Newsgroups: net.music.classical
Subject: Re: Sibelius - tone poems
Message-ID: <733@gitpyr.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 5-Sep-85 11:34:28 EDT
Article-I.D.: gitpyr.733
Posted: Thu Sep  5 11:34:28 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 6-Sep-85 05:27:06 EDT
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Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology
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> 
> When I was studying Baroque organ, I expressed to my teacher my fondness
> of Sibelius. His comment was that Sibelius is ok, as long as you like
> music searching desperately for a theme.
>
Searching desperately for a theme?  Let's look at the two styles
in which Sibelius composed.  The youthful stage, marked by many of the
tone poems (not Tapiola), the first two symphonies, and partially the
violin concerto, is marked by glorious themes of intense effect and
easy remembrance.  Why, the first symphony has much in common with 
Tchaikovsky.  The "infinite waters" theme of the fourth movement is
too striking to ever forget.  By the time Sibelius composed the second
symphony, however, he had begun to sojourn into the modern period 
somewhat, and was searching for new templates for his music that were
not cliched with the old styles (however beautiful these may have been).
The second symphony is wondrous in the formation/disintegration of
themes in the first movement (Remember Sibelius' retort to Mahler: "The
Symphony is beautiful because of its form and grammar") which still
allows some beautiful themes to creep out.  The third and fourth movements
are continuous song.  No theme missing here.
 
>  You seldom hear anything other
> than the 2nd symphony, Finlandia and the Swan of Tuonela (sp?) played
> by major orchestras.

Unfortunately, after Koussevitsky's continual patronage, there came
a somewhat dry period for Sibelius.  Ormandy often programmed his works,
but Colin Davis really became the champion Sibelius promoter in the 70's.
(I recommend his recordings on Philips above all others for Sibelius'
music). It's too bad Sir Colin hasn't toured more in the states, but
I gather Sibelius has undergone a renascence in Europe.  However, I
think we'll see more Sibelius in the next 10 years.

> I think his violin concerto, however, is crap.

You're disagreeing with the major violinists of the world.  It was
always David Oistrakh's favorite concerto, and his recording with
Ormandy is the best available (in my opinion).  That beautiful 
fragment theme introduced on violin at the very beginning to re-appear
only once in the close of the movement is one of those all-potent themes
that so rarely fit into music.  It's almost *too good* for the concerto,
and I'm never satisfied at only getting to hear it twice, but then, I
can't figure out another appropriate place in the movement for it.
Like the innocence theme in Taneyev's second symphony, it has to 
make effect more through memory than repetition, because too-much-repetition
would dilute it.   I hate to see someone missing such a beautiful work.
You might be disappointed with Heifetz' stern style if you first heard
his version (although I like it too), so try the Oistrakh.  In the
third movement, listen to the clouds gather and form.. And at the very
ending, hear the mists gather, to be dispersed by two great beams of
sunlight. 
 

Don Barry (Chemistry Dept)          CSnet: cmpbsdb%gitpyr@gatech.CSNET
Georgia Institute of Technology    BITNET: CMPBSDB @ GITVM1
Atlanta, GA 30332 
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