Sibelius Karelia Suite

Sibelius Karelia Suite Program Notes

In  1893,  University  students  in  Eastern  Finland  (Karelia)  commissioned  Sibelius  to  compose  music  for  a  series  of  patriotic  scenes  they  were  producing.    Telling  the Finnish  history  of  the  region  between  1293-1811,  the  proceeds  would  fund  popular  education  (that  is,  in  Finnish,  which  was  otherwise  not  allowed).    The  Suite’s  first  movement,  Intermezzo,  accompanied  loyal  Karelian  woodsmen  traveling  to  pay  taxes  to  a  foreign  (Lithuanian)  Prince.    The  Ballade  concerns  Karl  Knutsson,  Finnishking  of  Finland  and  Sweden.    Temporarily  deposed  from  his  throne,  and  holed  up  in  his  Karelian  castle,  he  listens  to  a  bard’s  song.    In  the  purely  orchestral  Suite,  an  English  horn  replaces  the  singer/French  horn  duet.  The  finale,  Alla  marcia,  depicts  preparations  for  an  heroic  Finnish  defensive  battle.  History  has  been  less  kind  to  Finnish  Karelia  than  Sibelius’  masterful  and  popular  score.    Karelia  is  now  a  Federal  Republic  of  Russia,  with  a  population  (in  2002)  that  is  more  than  75%  Russian.

Born: December 8, 1865, Hämeenlinna, Finland

Died: September 20, 1957, Ainola, Järvenpää, Finland