Sibelius: En Saga, Finlandia, Tapiola, Swan of Tuonela, Oceanides
YYYYY
I keep forgetting that Sibelius is one of my favorite composers. Even trying to listen to this CD on my iPod on the subway with all kinds of competing noise, it was mind-boggling.
If you liked The Lord of the Rings you would love this music. I don't know why they didn't use it for the movie soundtrack; it is spine-tingling. En Saga is my favorite, but Tapiola is right up there--I always imagine walking in a big scary forest in Finland and happening upon a monstrous spirit-being...which is sort of what the piece is about. Scariest. Music. Ever. So if you like being scared, Tapiola is the sort of thing you'd like.
Don't get me wrong, though, it's also insanely beautiful. As are all the other pieces on the recording. It's very high Romantic style, but with a edge to it.
[Note I have started a rating system. I Y this particular recording five Ys.]
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5 comments:
I always forget how good he is, too. I wouldn't call him one of my favorites, because I pretty much restrict that to a top ten (or twenty). Otherwise they'd ALL be my favorites except for Elgar and Copeland. He's one of the ones whose music I can't identify when I turn the radio on in the middle.
Mary Anne in Kentucky
I am a dud on this too. I love classical music but am not familiar Sibelius. I am also a dud about Lord of the Rings. Never even read the book.
Thanks for the info! Listening to Finlandia now and I realize it's familiar, but never realized it was Sibelius.
Aha! I got somebody to listen! Finlandia is great--noisy, though. All those cymbal crashes! I think this piece was written to be performed outside or something.
I wish we had a national anthem that pretty.
I have always loved Sibelius. I remember taking a drive through the mountains in KY and listening. the music made the drive an adventure.
I didn't know he wrote about Tapioca and wonder how the pudding got scary?
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