On Wednesday we celebrated the birthday of our national composer Jean Sibelius. He was born on 8th of December 1865 in Hämeenlinna and lived in this elegant town house the first three years of his life. Sibelius' father was city doctor of Hämeenlinna, but he died of typhoid when Janne was less than three years old. The father left great debts, and as a result the mother Maria Charlotta had to sell the house and move with Linda and Janne to her widowed mother elsewhere in Hämeenlinna while she was still pregnant of the youngest son Christian.
Sibelius' birthplace is a charming little museum in Hämeenlinna, which I visited in the autumn. The rooms are decorated in the style of the 1860s - 1880s, and the museum exhibition illuminates little Janne's childhood. Chamber concerts are held regularly in the museum hall. The atmosphere of the museum was calm and Sibelius' music was playing in the background - a charming visit!
When young he was a very handsome man. There were many photos to be seen.
I visited also The Sibelius Museum in Turku, that showed his family tree with Aino Järnefelt.
Beautiful Aino came from a very well known cultural family of the Järnefelts.
Her brothers were painter Eero, composer Armas, writer Arvid and critic Kasper.
Here you can read more about Sibelius and his multiple travels abroad.
Sibelius loved Christmas and the advent season eased his depressions. At the Sibelius Museum in Turku, I saw this wall-sized enlargement of a crane with a citation from Sibelius' diary from September 1916. I think it aptly breathes the composer's humility before nature and the depression he experienced when autumn arrived.
On all these days I have seen cranes;
full of music moving to the south.
Have been the willing pupil once again.
Their calls are my life thread.
Get increasingly close to heaven.
My heart full of melancholy and nature worship.
- Sibelius' diary the 10th of September 1916
There exist six Christmas carols composed by Jean Sibelius. They are not jolly and bright, more like slow psalms, but they are very popular in Finland and belong to every Christmas. I seek not Power or Glory, 1909 (lyrics Zacharias Topelius) starts like this and HERE you can listen to it interpreted by the acappella group Rajaton.
I seek not power or glory
Nor do I long for gold
I ask but for the light of heaven
And for peace on earth
I seek not power or glory
Nor do I long for gold
I ask but for the light of heaven
And for peace on earth
It brings us Christmas joy
And lifts our spirits towards God
Not power nor even gold
Just peace on earth
I seek not power or glory
Nor do I long for gold
I ask but for the light of heaven
And for peace on earth
It brings us Christmas joy
And lifts our spirits towards God
Not power nor even gold
Just peace on earth
I seek not power or glory
Nor do I long for gold
I ask but for the light of heaven
And for peace on earth
It brings us Christmas joy
And lifts our spirits towards God
Not power nor even gold
Just peace on earth
Sibelius' daughter Margareta Jalas has said that the carol I Seek not Power or Glory had a special place in Ainola's Christmas celebration. While Christmas songs were usually accompanied on the piano by Sibelius himself, this song was always accompanied by the mother of the family, Aino Sibelius. Its words are so easy to agree with in this global situation. I am especially fond of the carol Over Hill and Dale - it has an unusually beautiful melody. HERE you can listen to it interpreted by the opera singer Jorma Hynninen.
❤︎❤︎❤︎
Have a blessed Advent Season!
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Ohhh, wie schön ist das, die erinnerst an einen meiner Lieblingskomponisten Jan Sibelius.
VastaaPoistaIhn habe ich schon gekannt, als ich noch gar nicht wußte, wo Finnland ist. :-) als Kind, mein Bruder sagte immer, das ist ein finnischer Komponist, aber Mehr nicht. Erst später dann habe ich mich damit beschäftigt und auch mit seiner Biografie und seiner Musik.
Schön, dass du das erleben durftest, ich fast ein bisschen neidisch aber positiv, denn es gibt ja auch positiver Neid habe ich mir sagen lassen.
Ich hoffe, dass dieser Kommentar nicht wieder so durcheinander ist, wie der letzte. Mit ganz lieben Grüßen und einen schönen Advent wünscht dir Eva
So glad you know him Eva. Wishing @ happy 3rd Advent.Sibelius’ music is strong and impressive. I love Valse triste and the Swan of Tuonela among others.
PoistaA Birthday week ;-) so not only his day could be celebrated^^ What a pretty museum and for sure a place that should be visited when around. Thanks for sharing all these impressions. Love to beam me there, but after writing I will klick all the links, and theb I will walk once more ;-))
VastaaPoistaWishing you a good start into the exciting weekend and send loving greetings
Nova
I love visiting museums & art exhibitions. There is so much to see even in the home country.
PoistaNice to know about your national composer Jean Sibelius. He seems to be an interesting personality. His birthplace is a charming place, so well preserved. Liked his diary entry on crane.
VastaaPoistaThe diary quote is very touching.
PoistaThanks for sharing. Have a nice weekend!
VastaaPoistaThe same to you!
PoistaI do not know about him but it is good that he is remembered for his music and talents. Glad that there is museum hosting all his personal things.
VastaaPoistaHe is THE composer in Finland. Sibelius’ home museum Ainola is near my home and I visit there every summer and have told about it in many posts.
PoistaWas schaut der grimmig aus auf dem Foto mit Doktorhut! Aber seine Musik mag ich.
VastaaPoistaIhr habt schon jetzt einen argen Winter, habe ich gelesen. Bleib gesund!
❤️lich
Astrid
It must be some honor doctor cap, don’t know precisely. Happy weekend Astrid.
PoistaOh what a wonderful post for Sibelius, thanks for showing this important places from him.
VastaaPoistaI wish you a beautiful weekend, Greetings from Germany
Kirsi
I am always happy to tell about Finnish remarkable people. Greetings.
PoistaWhat a beautiful home.
VastaaPoistaThank you Sandi.
Poista...we share a birth date!
VastaaPoistaCongratulations Tom!
PoistaI had to smile at the portrait of the gentleman, dear Riitta. The haircut!! Have a warm & cozy third Advent. Hugs, Nicole
VastaaPoistaSibelius must have had so much music in his brain, that even his hair is a mess 😀 or maybe such hairdo was in fashion at that time…
PoistaLovely museum and a wonderful song. Strolled through your posts, I found nothing about the kittens - they are still not arrived?
VastaaPoistaHere with us the foxes have killed the next kitten, sigh!
Send you a shining star
The kittens arrive tomorrow Mascha. I am excited but a bit afraid, too. Do not know how wild they are. Such sad thing concerning the kitty killed by the foxes :((
Poistait's all so beautiful. I never heard of him but agree in seeking peace and light of heaven. His hair was wild wasn't it? lol
VastaaPoistathank you for so much beauty to share in this place
LeeAnna
Pretty wild LeeAnna :)
PoistaSuch a beautiful old home.
VastaaPoistaCranes are wonderful birds.
So good that Jean Sibelius found them uplifting.
He was very humble before the nature.
PoistaSibelius' birthplace is very charming. I enjoy going to see places where real people have lived. I do not know the words in English to his tune Finlandia, but the music is very familiar to me because there are hymns in English set to it.
VastaaPoistaI listened to the acappella version of I Seek Not Power nor Glory and found it very stirring. There is a full translation of the words down in the comments and they are beautiful. Certainly we need peace on this old earth. Thank you for sharing.
The lyrics are beautiful indeed. Written by Zacharias Topelius (1818-1898) who is very beloved in Finland and known for his farytales & children books. He has a nickname Fairytale Uncle - Satusetä.
PoistaHappen to love his music, but I did not know anything of his life. So thank you for your research! Isn't it ironic that when his father died they had to move because of finances, and later that town shows about his life? I can imagine that in that time that not many were able to travel like he did.
VastaaPoistaAn excellent post, Riitta:)
Thank you Jesh. It is ironic, but no one could anticipate then, that Sibelius would be that talented. If the city of Hämeenlinna would have known that, maybe they had helped the mother with fatherless kids.
PoistaInteresting story. Many of us find the short dark days to be depressing.
VastaaPoistaDear Riitta,
VastaaPoistaI don't really know that much about Sibelius, I'll check out your links and listen to them later. I also didn't know that he is affectionately called Janne in Finland :-) Thanks for the introduction. I find his words from the diary with the crane picture very moving. And his birth house looks really pretty.
All the best from Austria,
Traude
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2021/12/oma-freuden-und-was-sonst-noch-im.html
Me encantó conocerlo. Besos.
VastaaPoista