Finlandia

Finlandia, Op 26 is a tone poem by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius in the years 1899/1900 with the occupation. 2222-4331 -Pk Gr.Tr Bck, TRGl -Str

Emergence and contemporary reception

Since 1809, Finland was as a result of the Russo- Swedish War, part of the Russian Empire after it had before centuries belongs to Sweden. The onset of the 19th century national "awakening" of the Finns had at least done in 1902 for the recognition of Finnish as a second official language in Finland (next to the Swedish ). In the 1890s, the Finns had fought against the increasing Russification. The protest against the harassment of the press has played a crucial focus. In this context, so-called " press Celebration " was held in support of the Pension Fund of journalists, which also like theatrical performances were performed with national statement. For such a performance of "living pictures from the past and Finnish Mythology " in Swedish Theater ( Svenska Teatern ) Helsinki in 1899 contributed Sibelius a six-part suite as background music at. The last of these pieces was the first version of the symphonic poem " Finlandia ", which had a critically acclaimed success, so they Sibelius reworked shortly after the premiere to their known today form.

The program of the piece revealed itself at that time the audience directly, and even today falls with knowledge of the historical situation, the allocation of adequate extra-musical content to different parts not difficult. So it was that " Finlandia " quickly entered the Finnish national consciousness. The clay was in essence the "secret national anthem " Finland and was so popular that the Russian authorities they finished with a performance ban. But nevertheless succeeded in Sibelius to achieve performances under the unsuspecting for the Russian authorities Finnish title "Suomi " (= " Finland "). The popularity and patriotic and emotional significance of the piece in Finland continues unabated even today.

At the World Exhibition in Paris in 1900 was " Finlandia " listed and thus drew not only the composer Sibelius, but also the Finnish question in the attention of the rest of Europe.

The " Finlandia Hymn "

Veikko Antero Koskenniemi in 1941 wrote a text on the vocal middle section. In the threatening situation of Finland after the attack by the Soviet Union in 1939 this text brought the hopes of the Finns expressed and accordingly took a great response.

Use as a song outside Finland

The melody of the Finlandia hymn has also been used outside of Finland:

• In England it was the hymn " Be still, my soul" by Jane Laurie Borthwick (1813-1897) highlighted that (1697 - after 1768) in turn is a translation of a song by Catharina Amalia von Schlegel.
• In the internationally recognized Republic of Biafra hardly that existed from 1967 to 1970, the Finlandia was with the text " Land of the Rising Sun" national anthem.
• In the film score for Die Hard 2 of 1990, composer Michael Kamen was referring clearly to the music of Finlandia.
• In the GDR was the Finlandia the cult live tracks the star - Combo Meissen. However, he was never allowed to appear on an LP, presumably because the GDR cultural leaders did not tolerate that a "Freedom Symphony" is played.
• The Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish played the song on their world tour 2009/2010 as an intro. In the Imaginaerum World Tour since 2012 she plays Finlandia often as the first encore with the transition to the Song of Myself.