It seems in december 1940, disney approached sibelius to propose featuring the swan of tuonela in the famous animated film fantasia. The core of sibelius s oeuvre is his set of seven symphonies. Robert layton justly assessed the original 1989 release of the second symphony and the swan of tuonela as thoroughly straightforward without ever being matter of fact, and he clearly found the lack of expressive idiosyncrasy refreshing after his recent encounter with the vienna philharmonic under bernstein. Inspired by the finnish landscape and drawing upon the finnish kalevala myth of the birth of the moon as well as pierrots timeless role, the stopmotion animation is set to sibeliuss mystical classical piece of the same title. Dark figures surround the wanderer on the brinks of tuonela river. The swan of tuonela the swan of tuonela is what sibelius salvaged from the building of the boat, his first successful opera music so striking that one can not help but wonder about the operatic career that wagner, in effect, cut short. Tuonela, the kingdom of death, the hades of finnish mythology, is surrounded by a broad river of black water and rapid current, on which the swan of tuonela glides in majestic fashion and sings. Recorded in january 20 with pablo cabrera at quantum sounds studios in annandale, va.
Sep 09, 2011 the swan of tuonela ben garrison, 2011 after great travails lemminkainen made it to the underworld and he found the magic swan, but as he drew his arms to kill the bird, louhis cruel guile became apparent. According to traditional finnish religion, the fate of good and bad people is the same and the dead wander the afterlife as shadowlike ghosts. Watch the video for the swan of tuonela from jean sibelius s beauty spot for free, and see the artwork, lyrics and similar artists. Sibelius became an integral part of his repertoire, once the electrical recording era had taken a foothold. By all accounts, the sessions were hurriedly assembled. May 17, 2014 the bbc work page for the swan of tuonela by jean sibelius. His music played an important role in the formation of the finnish national identity. The swan of tuonela is a lyrical allegory with playful sensibility through performance and brushwork. Jean sibelius 1865 1957 the swan of tuonela tuonelan joutsen is an 1895 tone poem by the finnish composer jean sibelius. Jean sibelius the swan of tuonela thomas sondergard national orchestra of wales duration. Sibelius finlandia, the swan of tuonela, violin concerto. In estonian mythology, it is called toonela or manala according to traditional finnish religion, the fate of good and bad people is the same and the dead wander the afterlife as shadowlike ghosts.
The bbc work page for the swan of tuonela by jean sibelius. Saintsaens famously sets the swan, from his carnival of the animals, as a solo cello, and ravishingly beautiful it is too. A folklore hero hunts for a plastic swan, and a fairytale bride pole dances in the mast of her worn down vessel. Jean sibelius the swan of tuonela lyrics genius lyrics. The score inscription sets forth tuonela, the kingdom of death, the hades of finnish mythology, is surrounded by a broad river of black water and rapid current, in which the swan of tuonela glides in majestic fashion and sings.
Leopold stokowski conducting the philadelphia orchestra. When jean sibelius first read the finnish national epic poem, the kalevala, as a young student, he found the inspiration for much of the music that would one day make him famous and also label him somewhat unfairly as a nationalistic composer. The swan of tuonela, the first of these four tone poems to be composed, was originally performed as the third piece, and then later moved to second place, when the complete set was published. This collection of stories revolving around the world of classica. Jean sibelius lemminkainen in tuonela and the swan of. When jean sibelius first read the finnish national epic poem, the kalevala, as a young student, he found the inspiration for much of the. Swan of tuonela by swan of tuonela, released 30 january 20 1. Back arches in a balance defying outreach towards the underworld. Jean sibelius lemminkainen in tuonela and the swan of tuonela. It is part of the lemminkainen suite four legends from the kalevala, op. The swan of tuonela kurt sanderling on allmusic 1970. Jean sibelius born december 8, 1865, tavastehus, finland died september 20, 1957, jarvenpaa, finland. Apr 18, 2016 jean sibelius the swan of tuonela thomas sondergard national orchestra of wales duration. The swan of tuonela jean sibelius concerts, introduction.
Jul 16, 2018 tuonela, the kingdom of death, the hades of finnish mythology, is surrounded by a broad river of black water and rapid current, on which the swan of tuonela glides in majestic fashion and sings. The most famous selection from sibelius lemminkainen suite about the legendary finnish hero, this depicts his quest to kill the swan swimming through. Print and download in pdf or midi the swan of tuonela. Ten minutes art is an important means for shaping a peoples national identity. The swan of tuonela tuonelan joutsen is an 1895 tone poem by the finnish composer jean sibelius. Tuonela, tuoni, manala and mana are used synonymously. When jean sibelius first read the finnish national epic poem, the kalevala, as a young student, he found the inspiration for much of the music that would one day. Originally conceived as the prelude to an opera, this. Jean sibelius inscribed these words in the early editions of his searing 1895 tone poem, the swan of tuonela. The swan of tuonela to enjoy in your home or car, or gift it to another music lover.
The golden notes described lifes splendor and its heartachethe wordless. The swan of tuonela legend from the lemminkainen suite. Sibelius the swan of tuonela this tone poem by sibelius from 1895, tells the tale of a mystical swan, running around the island of the dead. Sibelius swan of tuonela suite such a beautiful piece of music. The tone poem is scored for a small orchestra of english horn, oboe, bass clarinet, two bassoons, four horns. Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. The earliest foray into the sibelian oeuvre was his 1929 recording of the swan of tuonela. Originally conceived as the prelude to an opera, this atmospheric music came to life.
The swan began to sing a haunting song of divine beauty. Tuonela is the realm of the dead or the underworld in finnish mythology. The swan of tuonela legend from the lemminkainen suite, op. Sep 05, 2005 listen to your favorite songs from sibelius. The swan of tuonela from the four legends of the kalevala. Find upcoming concerts, watch performances, and learn more about the music. In estonian mythology, it is called toonela or manala. Apr 30, 2018 sibelius swan of tuonela suite such a beautiful piece of music.
English horn solo by principle oboist marcel tabuteau. Jean sibelius, born johan julius christian sibelius 8 december 1865 20 september 1957, was a finnish composer and violinist of the late romantic and earlymodern periods. In the nineteenth century, music contributed significantly to the building of nations. Hands lift skirts up from the black waters of tuonela, land of the dead. However, it is in the public domain in canada where imslp is hosted and other countries where the term is lifeplus50 years such as china, japan, korea and many. This hauntingly beautiful recording comes with a good story. His mastery of the orchestra has been described as prodigious. The swan of tuonela sheet music for clarinet, violin. It is part of the lemminkainen suite four legends from the kalevala opus 22 based on finnish mythology in which tuonela is the kingdom of death. Although by that time, fantasia was already running in the theatres for a month, disney already had plans to continually revise and improve the film an approach that would surely have received more than a few. He is widely recognized as his countrys greatest composer and, through his music, is often credited with having helped finland to develop a national identity during its struggle for independence from. Tuonela, the land of death, the hell of finnish mythology, is surrounded by a large river of black waters.
92 1422 788 1418 27 313 1225 347 1440 1183 726 563 1138 1147 119 1028 1536 1526 1163 865 475 238 1029 1142 714 731 1399