Sibelius considered Chopin, Schumann, and Debussy to be the composers who best understood the essence of the piano.
Sibelius's piano technique primarily stems from Schumann's chord-dominated texture, but also from an imaginary orchestral movement.
The Sonata Op. 12 in F Major (1893) features monumental form and virtuoso piano writing that seems to have evolved from concepts of orchestral sounds.
Sibelius's arrangement of six Finnish folksongs demonstrates advanced modal harmony and piano writing that anticipates the style of Béla Bartók.
The Six Impromptus Op. 5, composed in 1893, form a suite with elements of a 'Finnish strain' reminiscent of Sibelius's symphonic poem Kullervo.
Jean Sibelius, though primarily a violinist, often improvised on the piano during his student days and before composing.
