Kullervo (Sibelius)

Kullervo is a standing between Symphony and Symphonic sealing the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865-1957), which involves also the choir and vocal soloists. Despite the great success of the first performance in 1892 in Helsinki Sibelius said soon after further overall performances during his lifetime.

Formation

Kullervo, the op 7 by Jean Sibelius, was born 1890-1892 in Vienna and Helsinki. Sibelius had previously dealt intensively with the Finnish national epic Kalevala, in which the tragic hero Kullervo finds Sage ( 31 - 36th vocals). Important musical key experiences for the music student Sibelius this time were on the one hand, the performance of the symphony Aino his compatriot Robert Kajanus ( also according to Kalevala motifs) in Berlin and on the other performances of the symphonies of Beethoven and Bruckner in Vienna.

Instrumentation

The score includes the following cast before: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion and strings. In addition there are mezzo- soprano and baritone solo and male chorus.

Structure and characteristics

The performance period of the five-movement work is about 70 to 75 minutes. Sentences 1, 2 and 4 are purely instrumental, while added in the 3rd set mezzo- soprano and baritone solo and male chorus, in the 5th set again the men's chorus ( the original language is Finnish). Formally, the work is not unique to you, and moves in the transition region between ( Chorus ) Symphony and Symphonic seal. Sibelius himself called it another 4 months before the premiere as " Symphony".

Despite some Nordic- archaic (and for the time of origin of the work quite bold ) sound language used Sibelius no original motives of Finnish folk music. In keeping with the tragic subject prevails a dark and brooding, sometimes menacing mood. Among the characteristics of the work include the use of modal harmonies and frequent 5/4-Takt.

Block sequence ( in brackets in each case the original Finnish name):

Premiere and reception

The first performance of Kullervo was on 28 April 1892 in Helsinki with the orchestra and the soloists Club Helsinki Emmy eighth and Abraham Ojanperä under the composer instead. It met with great enthusiasm and was even hailed as " the birth of Finnish music ". Nevertheless prohibited Sibelius, after he had Kullervo 1892/93 four more times conducted, more complete performances during his lifetime. Apart from isolated performances of the 3rd or 4th set sounded Kullervo in 1958, a year after Sibelius's death, again a total of (conducted by Jussi Jalas, Sibelius's son ). Meanwhile, there are several recordings, primarily under Finnish conductor before.