Symphony No. 7 (Sibelius)

The 7th Symphony in C major, op 105 is the last completed symphony and preserved and one of the last orchestral works by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. The premiere took place on 24 March 1924 in Stockholm held under Sibelius's own line. The orchestra is 2.2.2.2 - 4.3.3.0 -Pk Str; the performance takes about 22 minutes.

Characteristics and history of composition

The 7th Symphony is formally considered extraordinary because it consists only of a single sentence. However, this concept does not stand at the beginning of the composition, but was a long way, which began a four-movement work with sketches and gradually progress through the three movements to single-movement. Sibelius ' seven symphonies are inconsistent in terms of sets: A first-time violation of the traditional four movements can already be found in the Symphony No. 3, in the final movement of an initially fourth sentence with is incorporated. After the 7th Symphony Sibelius worked in the years 1928-1933 at a further, 's Symphony No. 8. Whether he accomplished this, is not clearly understood. Sibelius burned all designs for 1945. Moreover, his creative power was in the late 1920s as a result of excessive alcohol consumption after. After the 7th Symphony only created a few works, including the tone poem Tapiola ( 1926). Nevertheless, the composer lived for over thirty years without ever composed again.

The 7th Symphony has a long history. The composer mentioned for the first time in December 1918, but sketches dating from as early as 1914, when he worked on the 5th Symphony. Only after the premiere, entitled " Symphonic Fantasia No. 1" changed the advertising Sibelius Symphony drawing in order to emphasize the difference to his equally -movement symphonic poems.

Sibelius wanted to know his symphonies always understood as absolute music ". My symphonies are first and last thought music and without external cause " the beginning of the symphony developed Sibelius from a theme of never -composed tone poem Kuutar ( "Female Moon Spirit " ), which he in sketches with " Tähtölä " ("Where the stars glow " ) designated.

Comments on the 7th Symphony

" Despite the limitations of its extent, it is the climax of his creative work and its music is a concentration of the essence of the other symphonies ' best qualities. "

"Despite its brevity it is the culmination of his work. Their music is a concentration of the essence of the best features of his other symphonies. "

" The Seventh Symphony is something absolutely new and revolutionary in the history of the symphony. With the Seventh and " Tapiola " went the era of major-minor tonality at the end - but how fantastic " Veijo Murtomäki, musicologist!

" The 7 forms a pair with the 6, but this is not autobiographical. The ego has been neglected, and things are seen from the standpoint of humanity. The composer turns his attention from himself, to achieve higher forces. The Seventh is sacred music. This piece is also very difficult to play. " Osmo Vänskä, conductor