Jean Sibelius

Late Romantic · 1865–1957

To many listeners Jean Sibelius simply sounds like Finland, and Finns embraced him as a national voice while the country was still a province of Russia. Finlandia, his defiant orchestral piece from 1899, had to be performed under disguised titles to get past the censors. The Finnish state granted him a pension so he could compose full time, and he spent most of his life at Ainola, a house in the forest north of Helsinki.

His seven symphonies grow steadily leaner and stranger, and many of his orchestral works tell stories from the Kalevala, Finland's national epic. Then, around 1926, he stopped: the last thirty years of his life produced almost nothing, and he burned the manuscript of an eighth symphony.

Finlandia is the natural first listen. Follow it with the Symphony no. 2, his most openly romantic, which his countrymen heard as a promise of independence.

389 works in the catalog, across 5 genres. Log what you listen to with Opus, the classical music journal for iPhone.

Chamber

String Quartet in D minor, op. 56, "Voces intimae"
2 Earnest melodies, op. 77
2 Pieces for Violin and Piano, op. 2
3 Pieces for Violin and Piano, op. 116
4 Pieces for Violin and Piano, op. 78
4 Pieces for Violin and Piano, op. 115
4 Themes, for string quartet
5 Danses Champétres, op. 106
5 Pieces for Violin and Piano, op. 81
6 Pieces for Violin and Piano, op. 79
33 Small Pieces, for string quartet
Adagio and Fugue in D minor, for string quartet
Adagio in D minor
A Happy Musician, for solo violin
Alla marcia, for string quartet, JS 16
Alla marcia in C major, for piano trio
Allegretto in A
Allegretto in A flat major, for piano trio
Allegretto in A major, for solo violin, JS deest
Allegretto in A major, JS.17 and Più lento in F major, JS.149, for string quartet
Allegretto in B flat major, for string quartet
Allegretto in C
Allegretto in C major, JS 19
Allegretto in D major, for string quartet, JS 20
Allegretto in E flat major
Allegretto in E flat major, for piano trio
Allegretto in E flat major, JS 22
Allegretto in G
Allegretto in G major, JS 86
Allegro, for brass septet and triangle in E flat minor
Allegro in C major, for piano trio
Allegro in D major, for piano trio, JS 27
Allegro in D minor, for piano trio
Allegro in E minor, for string quartet, JS 28
Allegro in F minor, for string quartet, JS 14
Allegro in G minor, for string quartet
Andante, Adagio and Allegro maestoso, for piano trio
Andante and Allegro, for piano quintet, JS 31
Andante and Allegro molto in D major, for string quartet, JS 32
Andante cantabile in G
Andante elegiaco in F sharp minor
Andante Festivo, for string quartet, JS 34a
Andante grazioso in D
Andante molto in C major, JS 49
Andante molto in F minor, for cello and piano, JS 36
Andante molto sostenuto in B minor, for string quartet, JS 37
Andante sostenuto in E major, JS deest
Andantino in A major, for piano trio
Andantino in A minor
Andantino in C major, for cello and piano, JS 40
Andantino in C major, for string quartet, JS 39
Andantino in G minor, for piano trio, JS 43
Aubade in A
Duo in C major, for violin and viola, JS 66
Fuga for Martin Wegelius, for string quartet, JS 85
Grave in D minor
Impromptu, for chamber orchestra, op. 87a
Impromptu in G minor, for solo violin, JS deest
Interludium and Maestoso in C minor, JS deest
La pompeuse Marche d'Asis, for piano trio, JS 116
Largamente in E minor
Larghetto in D minor
Lento in E flat major, for cello and piano, JS 76
Lento in E flat minor, JS 76
Ljunga Wirginia, quartet for violin, cello and piano 4-hands
Maestoso in C minor
Malinconia, for cello and piano, op. 20
Mazurka in A
Mazurka in A major, JS 4
Mazurka in C major, for solo violin, JS deest
Menuetto in D minor
Menuetto in D minor, for piano trio
Menuetto in E minor
Menuetto in F major, for 2 violins and piano, JS 126
Moderato-Allegro Appassionato in C sharp minor, for string quartet, JS 131
Moderato-Maestoso in E flat major, for violin and piano, JS 132
Moderato in A minor, for piano trio
Molto Moderato - Scherzo, for string quartet, JS 134
Nights of Jealousy, recitation for speaker, violin, viola, cello and piano, JS 125
Novellette, op. 102
Oh, if you had seen, recitation for speaker and piano, JS 141
Overture in F minor for Brass Septet, JS 146
Petite Suite, for brass septet
Piano Quartet in C minor, JS 156
Piano Quartet in D minor, JS 157
Piano Quintet in G minor, JS 159
Piano Trio in A minor, JS 206
Piano Trio in A minor, JS 207, "Hafträsk"
Piano Trio in C, JS 208, "Lovisa Trio"
Piano Trio in D minor, JS 209
Prelude, for brass septet
Presto in A minor
Presto in D major, for string quartet
Presto in F major, for string quartet, JS 154
Quartet for Violin, Cello, Harmonium and Piano in G minor, JS 158
Rondo in D major, for viola and piano, JS 162
Scherzino in F
Scherzo in B minor, for string quartet
Scherzo in E major, for violin, cello and piano 4-hands, JS 165
Sonata Allegro Exposition in A minor, JS 26
Sonata movement in D
Sonatina in E major, op. 80
String Quartet in A minor, JS 183
String Quartet in B flat major, op. 4
String Quartet in E flat major, JS 184
String Trio in G minor
Suite in A for String Trio
Suite in D minor
Suite in E major, JS 188
Tempo di valse, for cello and piano, JS 194
Tempo di valse in A
Tempo di valse in B minor, JS 89
The Lonely Ski Trail, recitation for speaker, harp and strings, JS 77a
Theme and Variations in C sharp minor, for string quartet, JS 195
Theme and Variations in D minor, for solo cello, JS 196
Theme and Variations in G minor, for string quartet, JS 197
Tiera, tone poem for brass septet and percussion
Trio in G major, for 2 violins and piano, JS 205
Violin Sonata in A minor
Violin Sonata in F major, JS 178
Vivace, for piano quintet
Water Droplets, for violin and cello
Étude in D major, JS 55

Keyboard

2 Pieces for Organ, op. 111
2 Rondinos, op. 68
3 Fugal Expositions in D minor
3 Sonatinas, op. 67
4 Lyric Pieces, op. 74
5 Characteristic Impressions, op. 103
5 Esquisses, op. 114
5 Morceaux romantiques, op. 101
5 Pieces, op. 85, "The Flowers"
5 Pieces for Piano Op.75, "The Trees"
6 Bagatelles, op. 97
6 Finnish Folk Songs
6 Impromptus, op. 5
6 Pieces, op. 94
8 Pieces, op. 99
10 Bagatelles, op. 34
10 Little Pieces, op. 34
10 Pensées Lyriques, op. 40
10 Pieces, op. 24
10 Pieces, op. 58
11 Variations on a harmonic formula in D
13 Pieces, op. 76
A Catalogue of Themes, 50 pieces
Adagio in C
Adagio in D major, JS 11
Allegretto in B flat minor, JS 18
Allegretto in E major, JS 21
Allegretto in F major, JS 23
Allegretto in G minor, JS 24
Allegretto in G minor, JS 225
Allegro in G minor
Andante cantabile in E flat major, for piano and harmonium, JS 30b
Andante in E flat major, JS 30a
Andante ma non troppo lento in C sharp minor
Andantino in B flat major
Andantino in B major, JS 44
Andantino in C
Andantino in E major, JS 41
At Twilight, JS 47
Caprizzio in B flat major
Con moto, sempre una corda in D flat major, JS 52
Etude, op. 76
Florestan, suite, JS 82
Interludium in C minor
King Christian II, op. 27
Kyllikki: 3 Lyric Pieces, op. 41
Largamente in D minor
Largo in A major, JS 117
Lento in E major, JS 119
Mandolinata
Marche triste, JS 124
Menuetto in A minor, JS 5
Menuetto in B flat major
Menuetto in F sharp major
Minun kultani kaunis on
Moderato-Presto in D minor, JS 133
Piano Sonata in F major, op. 12
Piece in A flat major, JS 46
Piece in E flat major, JS 74
Piece in F minor
Piece in F minor
Più lento: Tempo di valse in E flat major, JS 150
Polka 'Aino' in C minor
Polka in E flat major, JS 75
Postludium, for organ
Preludium, for organ in F
Scherzo in E major, JS 134K1a
Scherzo in E major, JS 134K1b
Scherzo in F sharp minor, JS 164
Sonata Allegro Exposition and Development Section in D minor
Sonata Allegro Exposition in C major, JS 179b
Sonata Allegro Exposition in C minor, JS 179d
Sonata Allegro Exposition in F minor, JS 179a
Sonata Allegro in E major, JS 179c
Song of the Athenians, op. 31, no. 3
Spagnuolo
Tempo di valse in A major, JS 2
The Cavalier, JS 109
To Longing
Valse lyrique, op. 96a
Valse triste, op. 44
Valse à Betsy Lerche in A flat major, JS 1
Vivace in D minor, JS 221
Vivace in E flat major
Waltz in D flat major
Waltz in D minor
Waltz in E
Yearning: The Mystery of the Sighs, suite

Orchestral

En Saga, op. 9
Finlandia, op. 26
Kullervo, symphonic poem for vocal soloists, male chorus and orchestra, op. 7
Lemminkäinen Suite: 4 Legends from the Kalevala, op. 22
Luonnotar, for voice and orchestra, op. 70
Pohjola's Daughter, symphonic fantasy, op. 49
Symphony no. 2 in D major, op. 43
Symphony no. 3 in C major, op. 52
Symphony no. 4 in A minor, op. 63
Symphony no. 5 in E flat major, op. 82
Symphony no. 7 in C major, op. 105
Tapiola, op. 112
Violin Concerto in D minor, op. 47
2 Earnest Melodies, for violin and orchestra, op. 77
2 Pieces, op. 45
2 Serenades for Violin and Orchestra, op. 69
3 Pieces, op. 96
3 Scènes historiques I, op. 25
3 Scènes Historiques II, op. 66
4 Pieces, for viola and orchestra, op. 78
6 Humoresques for Violin and Orchestra, op. 87 and 89
Academic March
Autrefois, for orchestra and 2 voices ad lib, op. 96b
Belshazzar's Feast, op. 51
Canzonetta, op. 62a
Cassazione, op. 6
Cortège
Dance Intermezzo, op. 45, no. 2
Everyman, for vocal soloists, chorus, piano, organ and orchestra, op. 83
Finland Awakes
Impromptu in B minor, op. 5, no. 5
In Memoriam, funeral march, op. 59
Karelia, for voices and orchestra
Karelia Overture, op. 10
Karelia Suite, op. 11
King Christian II, for voice and orchestra, op. 27
King Christian II, orchestral suite, op. 27
Kuolema, op. 44
Kuolema, op. 62
March of the Björneborgers
Morceau romantique
Night Ride and Sunrise, op. 55
Overture in A minor
Overture in E
Pan and Echo, op. 53a
Pelléas et Mélisande, op. 46
Pelléas et Mélisande, op. 46
Press Celebration Music
Presto in D
Rakastava, for string orchestra, triangle, and timpani, op. 14
Rakastava, suite for string orchestra, triangle and timpani, op. 14
Romance, op. 42
Scaramouche, incidental music for a tragic pantomime for piano and orchestra, op. 71
Scène de Ballet
Spring Song, op. 16
Suite caractéristique, for harp and strings, op. 100
Suite champêtre, op. 98b
Suite for Violin and String Orchestra, op. 117
Suite mignonne, for 2 flutes and strings, op. 98a
Swanwhite, op. 54
Swanwhite, op. 54
Symphony no. 1 in E minor, op. 39
Symphony no. 6 in D minor, op. 104
The Bard, op. 64
The Countess's Portrait, tableau music for accordion and string orchestra
The Dryad, op. 45, no. 1
The Oceanides, op. 73
The Tempest: Suite no. 1, op. 109, no. 2
The Tempest: Suite no. 2, op. 109, no. 3
The Tempest Op.109
The Water Sprite, JS 138
The Wood Nymph, op. 15
Wedding March

Stage

The Maiden in the Tower Opera

Vocal

2 Partsongs, for male chorus, op. 108
2 Songs, op. 35
3 Choral Songs, for chorus and orchestra, op. 31
3 Introductory Antiphons, for chorus and organ, op. 107
3 Songs for American Schools, for children's chorus and piano
5 Christmas Songs, op. 1
5 Partsongs, for male chorus, op. 84
5 Songs, op. 37
5 Songs, op. 38
6 Partsongs, for male chorus, op. 18
6 Songs, op. 36
6 Songs, op. 50
6 Songs, op. 72
6 Songs, op. 86
6 Songs, op. 88
6 Songs, op. 90
7 Songs, op. 17
7 Songs of Runeberg, op. 13
8 Songs, op. 57
8 Songs, op. 61
9 Songs, op. 23
9 Songs for Chorus, op. 23
A Child Is Born Unto Us, JS 142
Arioso, for voice and orchestra, op. 3
Birthday Song for Grandmother
Cantata, for female chorus
Cantata for the Coronation of Nicholas II, for chorus and orchestra
Cantata for the Helsinki University Ceremonies of 1894, for chorus and orchestra, JS105
Cantata for the Helsinki University Ceremonies of 1897, for vocal soloists, chorus and orchestra, op. 23
Carminalia, 3 songs for chorus and piano
Christmas Song, for children's chorus
Come my Sweetheart
Contrapuntal Exercises, for chorus
Dreams
Ensam i dunkla skogarnas famn
En visa, JS 71
Festive March
Fridolin's Folly, for male chorus
God's Blessing, JS 95
Have You Courage?, for male chorus
Herr du bist ein fels, chorale for chorus and orchestra
Herr erzeige uns deine Gnade, chorale for chorus and orchestra
How pale it all is
Hymn in Praise of the Lord, for chorus and orchestra
Hymn of the Earth, cantata for voices and orchestra, op. 95
Hymn to Thaïs, the Unforgettable
Hymnus: Natus in curas, for male chorus, op. 21
Imagine, see how the bird swoops
Impromptu: 'Thou who guidest the Stars', for female chorus and orchestra, op. 19
In the Moonlight, for male chorus
In the Morning Mist, for children's chorus
Jonas' Journey, for male chorus
Karelia's Fate, patriotic march for male chorus and piano
Kullervo's Lament
Les trois soeurs aveugles, op. 46, no. 4
Listen to the Water Mill, for unison chorus, JS 122
March of the Jaegers, for male chorus and piano, op. 91a
March of the Workers
Masonic Ritual Music, for male chorus and organ, op. 113
Narcissus Song
Nejden andas, for children's chorus
Nostalgia, for female chorus
Not with Lamentations, for chorus, JS 69
Oh do you hear, Miss Gyellengborg?
Orgies
Our Native Land, cantata for chorus and orchestra, op. 92
People of Land and Sea, op. 65a
Play, pretty maiden, for voice and chorus
Primary School Children's March, for children's chorus
Resemblence
Row, Row Duck
Sailing
Sandels, improvisation for male chorus and orchestra, op. 28
School Song
Scout March, op. 91b
Serenad, JS 167
Snöfrid, improvisation for reciter, male voices, and orchestra, op. 29
Song of Exile, for male chorus
Song of the Athenians, op. 31, no. 3
Song of the Earth, for chorus and orchestra, op. 93
Tanken, duo for 2 voices and piano, "The Thought"
Terve ruhtinatar, for children's chorus, JS 104
The Bells of Kallio Church, op. 65b
The Breaking of the Ice on the River Oulu, improvisation for reciter, male chorus and orchestra, op. 30
The Bridge Guard, for male chorus
The Captive Queen, cantata for chorus and orchestra, op. 48
The Fool's Song of the Spider, op. 27, no. 4
The Little Girls
The Lofty Heaven, for chorus and organ
The Lover
The Origin of Fire, for voice, male chorus and orchestra, op. 32
The Rapids-Shooter's Bride, for 2 voices and orchestra, op. 33
The Song of the People of Uusimaa
The Way to School, for children's chorus
The World Song of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, for female childrens chorus and piano, op. 91b, no. 2
To Thérèse Hahl
Trettondagsafton, 2 incidental song settings, op. 60, "Twelfth Night"
Up through the air, for chorus and piano
Väinö's Song, cantata for chorus and orchestra, op. 110
We Ask for Nothing Rich or Rare, for male chorus, op. 1, no. 4
We praise Thee, Our Creator, op. 23, no. 6a
When spring once more comes to life
Where the Thrush Toils, JS 129
Why, father, do you kiss my sweetheart here?, for female chorus and piano

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