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| The '''''Karelia Suite''''', Op. 11, is a collection of orchestral pieces composed by the ] composer ]. | The '''''Karelia Suite''''' (originally titled '''''Karelia Music'''''), Op. 11, is a collection of orchestral pieces composed by the ] composer ]. | ||
| ⚫ | The movements in this ] are borrowed from |
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| The rough-hewn character of the music was deliberate: the aesthetic intention was not to dazzle with technique but to capture the quality of "naive," folk-based authenticity. Historical comments have noted the nationalistic character of the music.<ref>{{cite journal | url=http://mq.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/XIII/4/617 | last=Lyle | first=Watson | title=The "Nationalism" of Sibelius | journal=The Musical Quarterly | volume=13 | issue=4 | pages=617–629 | year=1927 | accessdate=2008-03-23}}</ref> | The rough-hewn character of the music was deliberate: the aesthetic intention was not to dazzle with technique but to capture the quality of "naive," folk-based authenticity. Historical comments have noted the nationalistic character of the music.<ref>{{cite journal | url=http://mq.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/XIII/4/617 | last=Lyle | first=Watson | title=The "Nationalism" of Sibelius | journal=The Musical Quarterly | volume=13 | issue=4 | pages=617–629 | year=1927 | accessdate=2008-03-23}}</ref> | ||
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| ==Orchestration== | ==Orchestration== | ||
| The suite is scored for 3 ]s (3rd doubling ]), 3 ]s (3rd doubling ]), 2 ]s, 2 ]s, 5 ]s in F and E, 3 ]s in F and E, 3 ]s, ], ], ], ]s, ], ], ]s. Ralph Wood has commented on the role of the percussion in this composition.<ref>{{cite journal | last=Wood | first=Ralph W. | title=Sibelius's Use of Percussion | journal=Music & Letters, | volume=23 | issue=1 | pages=10–23 | year=1942 | jstor=728570}}</ref> | The suite is scored for 3 ]s (3rd doubling ]), 3 ]s (3rd doubling ]), 2 ]s, 2 ]s, 5 ]s in F and E, 3 ]s in F and E, 3 ]s, ], ], ], ]s, ], ], ]s. Ralph Wood has commented on the role of the percussion in this composition.<ref>{{cite journal | last=Wood | first=Ralph W. | title=Sibelius's Use of Percussion | journal=Music & Letters, | volume=23 | issue=1 | pages=10–23 | year=1942 | jstor=728570}}</ref> | ||
| ==Background== | |||
| {{Main|Karelia Music}} | |||
| ⚫ | The movements in this ] are all borrowed from the '''''Karelia Music''''' tableau music he was commissioned to write in 1893 for a patriotic historical pageant to be presented by students of the ] in ], ], in the south-eastern corner of ].<ref>'s description of the suite.</ref> However, because of the first performances of the suite, Sibelius was extremely dissatisfied with the reception from the audience. As Sibelius noted later, | ||
| {{Quote|You couldn't hear a single note of the music — everyone was on their feet cheering and clapping.|Jean Sibelius|''A Letter To His Brother ]''<ref name=Wise> from ]</ref>}} | |||
| Because of the somewhat embarrassing reception, Sibelius subsequently compiled a "Concert Suite" of three pieces from the pageant's incidental music (an overture was published separately as Op. 10).<ref name=Wise/> | |||
| ==Movements== | ==Movements== | ||
Revision as of 09:22, 5 May 2014
The Karelia Suite (originally titled Karelia Music), Op. 11, is a collection of orchestral pieces composed by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius.
The rough-hewn character of the music was deliberate: the aesthetic intention was not to dazzle with technique but to capture the quality of "naive," folk-based authenticity. Historical comments have noted the nationalistic character of the music.
The suite is one of Sibelius's earlier works and remains one of his most popular.
Sibelius held the Karelia province in particular affection. In earlier years he had found stimulus in its folk music, and later he was to spend his honeymoon there.
Orchestration
The suite is scored for 3 flutes (3rd doubling piccolo), 3 oboes (3rd doubling english horn), 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 5 horns in F and E, 3 trumpets in F and E, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, bass drum, cymbals, triangle, tambourine, strings. Ralph Wood has commented on the role of the percussion in this composition.
Background
Main article: Karelia MusicThe movements in this suite are all borrowed from the Karelia Music tableau music he was commissioned to write in 1893 for a patriotic historical pageant to be presented by students of the University of Helsinki in Viipuri, Karelia, in the south-eastern corner of Finland. However, because of the first performances of the suite, Sibelius was extremely dissatisfied with the reception from the audience. As Sibelius noted later,
You couldn't hear a single note of the music — everyone was on their feet cheering and clapping.
— Jean Sibelius, A Letter To His Brother Christian
Because of the somewhat embarrassing reception, Sibelius subsequently compiled a "Concert Suite" of three pieces from the pageant's incidental music (an overture was published separately as Op. 10).
Movements
The suite is in three movements:
- Intermezzo, a jaunty Allegro march-like theme, depicting a procession, the orchestra brilliantly portraying the atmosphere of marching contingents. The piece was used in the UK as a title theme for the long-running ITV current affairs programme This Week and was used in 1975 to begin the broadcasting day of New Zealand's Television One.
- Ballade, "sung" by a bard (on cor anglais), reflecting the mood of a fifteenth-century Swedish king, Karl Knutsson, reminiscing in his castle whilst being entertained by a minstrel.
- Alla Marcia, an exhilarating march, originally incidental to a tableau depicting a castle siege.
Completions of the original complete score
Two composers have reconstructed the complete music to Karelia. Kalevi Aho's completion was released in 1997 in a recording with the Lahti Symphony Orchestra conducted by Osmo Vänskä. Jouni Kaipainen's completion was recorded for a 1998 release with the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Tuomas Ollila. The complete music consists of an Overture and ten pieces, and runs about 44 minutes, as opposed to the suite, which lasts about twelve minutes.
The original movements are as follows:
- Overture*
- Tableau 1 - A Karelian home. News of War (alternatively titled Tableau 1: Runic Song: Oi Ukko, ylijumala on the recording by the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra)**
- Tableau 2 - The founding of Viipuri Castle**
- Tabelau 3 - Narimont, the Duke of Lithuania, levying taxes in the province of Käkisalmi**
- Intermezzo (I) (Alternatively titled as Intermezzo)*
- Tableau 4 - Karl Knutsson in Viipuri Castle (alternatively titled as Tableau 4: Ballade: Hall om en afton da rim faller pa, I biden mig val!)*
- Tableau 5 - Pontus De la Gardie at the gates of Käkisalmi in 1580**
- Intermezzo (II) (Alternatively titled as Intermezzo: Alla Marcia)*
- Tableau 6 - The Siege of Viipuri Castle**
- Tableau 7 - The Reunion of Old Finland (Karelia) with the rest of Finland**
- Tableau 8 - The Finnish National Anthem (alternatively titled as Tableau 8: Oi, maamme Suomi, synnyinmaa)†
* denotes that this movement has been released before. ** denotes that this movement is new to the Karelia suite. † denotes that this movement has been released but hasn't been played with the Karelia suite before.
References
- Lyle, Watson (1927). "The "Nationalism" of Sibelius". The Musical Quarterly. 13 (4): 617–629. Retrieved 2008-03-23.
- Wood, Ralph W. (1942). "Sibelius's Use of Percussion". Music & Letters,. 23 (1): 10–23. JSTOR 728570.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) - sibelius.fi's description of the suite.
- ^ Brian Wise's description from Allmusic
- Sibelius - Karelia, complete score, BIS Records. http://www.bis.se/index.php?op=album&aID=BIS-CD-915 Retrieved 2012-02-24.
- SIBELIUS, J.: Karelia / Press Celebrations Music (Tampere Philharmonic), Naxos.com. http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=ODE913-2 Retrieved 2012-02-24.