View source for Finlandia

{{Short description|Tone poem by Jean Sibelius}}
{{other uses}}
{{Infobox musical composition
| type                = [[Tone poem]]
| name                = ''Finlandia''
| composer            = {{nowrap|[[Jean Sibelius]]}}
| image               = JeanSibelius circa1898-1900.jpg
| image_upright       = .9
| caption             = The composer ({{c.|1900}})
| border              = Yes
| opus                = 26 (revised version)
| catalogue           = [[List of compositions by Jean Sibelius#Works with and without opus|JS]]&nbsp;137/7 (original version)
| composed            = {{start date|1899}}, {{abbr|rev.|revised}}&nbsp;1900
| publisher           = {{ill|Fazer & Westerlund|fi|Fazerin musiikkikauppa}} (1901){{sfn|Dahlström|2003|p=114}}{{efn|On 20&nbsp;July 1905, the Helsinki-based music publisher {{ill|Fazer & Westerlund|fi|Fazerin musiikkikauppa}} ({{lang|sv|Helsingfors Nya Musikhandel|italics=no}}) sold its Sibelius holdings (the publishing rights and printing plates) to the German firm of [[Breitkopf&nbsp;& Härtel]].{{sfn|Dahlström|2003|p=xxiv}}}}
| duration            = 9&nbsp;mins. ({{abbr|orig.|originally}} 9&nbsp;mins.){{sfn|Dahlström|2003|pp=109, 113}}
| premiere_date       = {{unbulleted list|{{start date|1899|11|04|df=y}} (JS&nbsp;137/7){{sfn|Dahlström|2003|p=109}}|{{start date|1900|07|02|df=y}} (Op.&nbsp;26){{sfn|Dahlström|2003|p=113}}}}
| premiere_location   = [[Helsinki]], [[Grand Duchy of Finland]]
| premiere_conductor  = {{unbulleted list|Jean Sibelius (JS&nbsp;137/7)|[[Robert Kajanus]] (Op.&nbsp;26)}}
| premiere_performers = [[Helsinki Philharmonic Society]]
}}
{{Music of Finland}}
'''''Finlandia''''', [[Opus number|Op]].&nbsp;26, is a [[tone poem]] by the Finnish composer [[Jean Sibelius]]. It was written in 1899 and revised in 1900.  The piece was composed for the Press Celebrations of 1899, a covert protest against increasing censorship from the [[Russian Empire]], and was the last of seven pieces performed as an accompaniment to a tableau depicting episodes from [[history of Finland|Finnish history]].<ref>See [[Grand Duchy of Finland]] and [[Russification of Finland]] for further historical context.</ref> The premiere was on 2 July 1900 in [[Helsinki]] with the [[Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra|Helsinki Philharmonic Society]] conducted by [[Robert Kajanus]].<ref name="musiikki" /> A typical performance takes between {{frac|7|1|2}} and 9 minutes.

== History ==
As with the ''[[Karelia Suite]]'', the original ''Press Celebrations Music'' suite was never originally released under Sibelius' supervision, but after almost 99 years with the sheet music untouched, the suite was reconstructed and released on two different CDs, the first one by the [[Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra]] in 1998, conducted by Tuomas Ollila,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/sibelius-karelia-music-press-celebration-music-mr0002062268 |title=Sibelius: Karelia Music; Press Celebration Mus... |website=AllMusic}}</ref> and the second by the [[Lahti Symphony Orchestra]] in 2000, conducted by Osmo Vänskä.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/finland-awakes-mr0002455688 |title=Finland Awakes - Osmo Vänskä, Lahti Symphony...|website=AllMusic}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/composition/press-celebration-music-sanomalehdist%C3%B6n-p%C3%A4ivien-musikki-incidental-music-for-orchestra-mc0002453450 |title=Press celebration music (Sanomalehdistön päi... |website=AllMusic}}</ref>

The last two movements of the suite were reworked to become ''Finlandia''.<ref name="musiikki" />

In order to avoid Russian censorship, ''Finlandia'' had to be performed under alternative names at various musical concerts. Titles under which the piece masqueraded were numerous and often confusing—famous examples include ''Happy Feelings at the awakening of Finnish Spring,'' and ''A Scandinavian Choral March.''{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} According to Finland's tourism website, "While Finland was still a Grand Duchy under Russia, performances within the empire had to take place under the covert title of 'Impromptu'."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://finland.fi/arts-culture/finlandia-by-jean-sibelius/ | title=Finlandia by Jean Sibelius |website=finland.fi | date=24 June 2014 }}</ref>

The original movements are as follows.
*''[[Prelude (music)|Preludium]]:'' ''Andante (ma non troppo)''
*''[[Tableaux vivants|Tableau]] 1:'' ''The Song of {{lang|fi|[[Väinämöinen]]}}''
*''Tableau 2:'' ''[[Christianization of Scandinavia|The Finns are Baptized]] by [[Henry (Bishop of Finland)|Bishop Henry]]''
*''Tableau 3:'' ''Scene from [[John III of Sweden|Duke Johan's]] Court''
*''Tableau 4:'' ''The Finns in the [[Thirty Years' War]]''
*''Tableau 5:'' ''[[Finland during the Great Northern War|The Great Hostility]]''
*''Tableau 6:'' ''Finland Awakes''

==Instrumentation==
''Finlandia'' is scored for the following instruments,{{sfn|Dahlström|2003|p=113}} organized by family ([[woodwind section|woodwind]]s, [[brass section|brass]], [[percussion section|percussion]], and [[String section|string]]s):

*2&nbsp;[[Western concert flute|flute]]s, 2&nbsp;[[oboe]]s, 2&nbsp;[[clarinet]]s (in B{{flat}}), and 2&nbsp;[[bassoon]]s
*4&nbsp;[[French horn|horn]]s (in&nbsp;F), 3&nbsp;[[trumpet]]s (in&nbsp;F), 3&nbsp;[[trombone]]s, and [[tuba]]
*[[Timpani]], [[bass drum]], [[cymbal]]s, and [[triangle (musical instrument)|triangle]]
*[[Violin]]s (I&nbsp;and II), [[viola]]s, [[cello]]s, and [[double bass]]es

==Structure==
Most of the piece is taken up with rousing and turbulent music, evoking the national struggle of the Finnish people. 

{{vpad|1em}}
{{Image frame|align=center|width=800|caption=Main theme (Measures 1–8)|content={{vpad|1em}}
<score sound="1"> {\new PianoStaff {<<

\new Staff \relative c'{\set Staff.midiInstrument=#"french horn" \time 2/2 \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \tempo "Andante sostenuto" 4=100 \autoBeamOff \transposition f \clef treble \key a \minor ^\markup {Horns} |<e cis>1~ \f \<|<e cis>4 \fz r4 r2|<e cis>1~ \f \<|<e cis>4 \fz r4 r2|<e cis>1 \ff| <e cis>2 \ff <e cis>2 \ff|<fis a,>2 \ff <gis e>2 \ff|\fermata <gis b,>1 \ff|} 

\new Staff \relative c' {\set Staff.midiInstrument=#"trombone" \time 2/2 \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \tempo "Andante sostenuto" 4=100 \autoBeamOff \clef bass \key a \minor ^\markup {Trombones I, II} 

\new Voice <<
    \relative {|cis'1 \f \< (|bis4) \fz r4 r2|cis1 \f \< (|bis4) \fz r4 r2|cis1 \ff|bis2 \ff cis2 \ff|d!2 \ff e2 \ff|\fermata e1 \ff|}

    \relative {|cis1 \f \< |bis4 \fz r4 r2|cis1 \f \< |bis4 \fz r4 r2|cis1 \ff|fis2 \ff fis2 \ff|gis2 \ff e2 \ff|\fermata a1 \ff|} >>}

\new Staff \relative c{\set Staff.midiInstrument=#"trombone" \time 2/2 \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \tempo "Andante sostenuto" 4=100 \autoBeamOff \clef bass \key a \minor ^\markup {Trombone III} |r1|r1|r1|r1|cis1 \ff|d!2 \ff cis2 \ff|b!2 \ff a2 \ff|\fermata a1 \ff|}>>}}</score>}}

Towards the end, a calm comes over the [[orchestra]], and the serene and melodic ''[[Finlandia Hymn]]'' is heard.  Often incorrectly cited as a traditional folk melody, the Hymn section is Sibelius' own creation.<ref>Dubal, David. ''The Essential Canon of Classical Music'', p. 466.  New York:  North Point Press, 2001.</ref>

[[File:Finlandia première édition.gif|thumb|''Finlandia'', piano arrangement by the composer (1900). 1952 autographed copy for the [[Mayor of New York]], [[Vincent Impellitteri]].]]

==Derivative works==
Although he initially composed it for orchestra, in 1900 Sibelius arranged the work for solo [[piano]].<ref name="musiikki">{{Cite web |url=https://www.sibelius.fi/english/musiikki/ork_finlandia.htm |title=Finlandia |website=www.sibelius.fi}}</ref><ref>Sibelius, Jean.  ''Finlandia Op. 26 Nr. 7 für Klavier zu zwei Händen'', Wiesbaden: Breitkopf & Härtel, Nr. 2415</ref>

Sibelius later reworked the ''Finlandia Hymn'' into a stand-alone piece.  This hymn, with words written in 1941 by [[Veikko Antero Koskenniemi]], is one of the most important [[nationalism|national]] songs of [[Finland]]. It has been repeatedly suggested to be the official national anthem of Finland.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://yle.fi/a/3-7675489 |title=Sibeliuksen Finlandia syntyi vapauden kaipuusta, sävelet kertovat Suomen kansan noususta |trans-title=Sibelius' Finlandia was born from the longing for freedom, the tunes tell of the rise of the Finnish people |date=December 8, 2014 |website=Yle Uutiset}}</ref> Today, during modern performances of the full-length ''Finlandia'', a choir is sometimes involved, singing the Finnish lyrics with the hymn section.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Finlandia |title=Finlandia, Tone Poem For Orchestra By Sibelius |last=Schwarm|first=Betsy |website=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |access-date=6 July 2018}}</ref>

With different words, it is also sung as a [[Christianity|Christian]] [[hymn]] (''I Sought The Lord, And Afterward I Knew''; ''Be Still, My Soul'',<ref>Written by [[Catharina von Schlegel]] in 1752 and translated into English by [[Jane Laurie Borthwick]]. '''See''': [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwkPsKe-39Y ''Be Still My Soul''] (video-2005) and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0jmPam4ymA ''Be Still My Soul''] (''Free''; music) by [[Libera (choir)]]; Libera Official, 2011–2014 (Youtube).</ref> ''When Memory Fades,''<ref>{{Cite web|title=History of Hymns: 'When Memory Fades'|url=https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-when-memory-fades|access-date=2021-04-19|website=Discipleship Ministries|language=en-US}}</ref> ''I Then Shall Live'',<ref>Written by [[Gloria Gaither]]. '''See''': [https://hymnary.org/hymn/CEL1997/604 ''The Celebration Hymnal: songs and hymns for worship 604. I then shall live as one who's been forgiven | Hymnary.org'']. Retrieved 2024-02-25.</ref> ''Hail, Festal Day'', in Italian evangelical churches: Veglia al mattino<ref>{{cite web|title=Veglia al mattino – Chiesa Evangelica Valdese|publisher=Unione delle Chiese metodiste e valdesi|url=http://www.chiesavaldese.org/aria_cms.php?page=113|website=www.chiesavaldese.org|date=17 January 2014|access-date=22 December 2015|archive-date=23 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223023907/http://www.chiesavaldese.org/aria_cms.php?page=113|url-status=dead}}</ref>), and was the [[national anthem]] of the short-lived African state of [[Biafra]] (''Land of the Rising Sun'').<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kendall |first1=David |last2=Cahoon |first2=Ben |title=Biafra – nationalanthems.info |url=http://www.nationalanthems.info/bia.htm |website=www.nationalanthems.info |access-date=7 April 2021}}</ref> In [[Wales]] the tune is used for [[Lewis Valentine]]'s patriotic hymn ''Gweddi Dros Gymru (A Prayer for Wales)''.

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|24em}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book|last=Dahlström|first=Fabian|author-link=:sv:Fabian Dahlström|title=Jean Sibelius: Thematisch-bibliographisches Verzeichnis seiner Werke|trans-title=Jean Sibelius: A Thematic Bibliographic Index of His Works|date=2003|publisher=Breitkopf & Härtel|location=Wiesbaden|language=de|isbn=3-7651-0333-0}}
*Hepokoski, James (2004). "''Finlandia'' awakens." In Daniel M. Grimley, ed., ''The Cambridge Companion to Sibelius'' (Cambridge University Press), pp.&nbsp;81–94.


== External links ==
* {{IMSLP2|work=Finlandia, Op.26 (Sibelius, Jean)|cname=''Finlandia'', Op.&nbsp;26}}
* [http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/variations/scores/cag4960/index.html Full score] of a number of Sibelius's tone poems, including this piece
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q-hcUuRLcI  2012 YouTube video recording of Finlandia Op. 26 by Jean Sibelius]

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[[Category:Tone poems by Jean Sibelius]]
[[Category:1899 compositions]]
[[Category:National symbols of Finland]]
[[Category:Compositions in A-flat major]]