Sibelius's "Sommerlied" (Summer Song) is an expression of his pantheism, where he experiences man and nature as a single entity.
Composition History
The opus number 40 for Sibelius's Ten Pieces for Piano is misleading, as these lyrical pieces were composed during the war years of 1915-16.
Compositional Technique
Sibelius's "Scherzino" has "something of Benvenuto Cellini in its nature," according to the composer, reflecting the Renaissance figure's feverish energy through its impetuous themes and brilliant piano writing.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Sibelius's friend, Ferruccio Busoni, coined the term "youthful classicism" to describe the composer's style in his Ten Pieces for Piano, Op. 58.
Compositional Technique
In "Dialogue," Sibelius demonstrates a preference for "harmonic axes" at an interval of a major third, such as B-flat, D, and G-flat (F-sharp).
Composer's Artistic Vision
Sibelius considered "Des Abends" (The Evening) to be his "best piece for atmosphere," capturing the mood of a Nordic late summer evening.
Composer Biography
Sibelius once wrote of Tchaikovsky, "In that man there is much of what I have too," indicating a shared melancholic and sensitive musical nature.
