Hymn of the Earth (in Finnish: Maan virsi), Op. 95, is a single-movement, patrioticcantata for mixed choir and orchestra written from 1919 to 1920 by Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. The piece, which is a setting of the Finnish author Eino Leino'sFinnish-language poem of the same name, is chronologically the eighth of Sibelius's nine orchestral cantatas; in particular, it belongs to the series of four "little known, but beautiful"[2] cantatas from the composer's mature period that also includes My Own Land (Op. 92, 1918), Song of the Earth (Op. 93, 1919), and Väinämöinen's Song (Op. 110, 1926). Hymn of the Earth premiered on 4 April 1920 in Helsinki, with Heikki Klemetti [fi] conducting the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra and his choir, Suomen Laulu [fi].[1]
The cantata resulted from a commission by the Finnish choral conductor Heikki Klemetti [fi], who had founded the mixed choir Suomen Laulu [fi] in 1900 and desired from Sibelius a new work that the ensemble could perform in the spring of 1920 to celebrate its twentieth anniversary.[3] Sibelius, however, was unenthused, writing in his diary in January 1919: "And then there's the promise I made Klemetti for a work for Suomen Laulu. He is by no means one of my 'admirers'. It annoys me that he only wants to use my name as a decoration".[3] By late December 1919, however, Sibelius's delay tactics ceased and he began work on the piece for Klemetti.
Although Sibelius had planned to set Suomenmaa by the Finnish poet Aleksis Kivi, he settled on Maan virsi by Eino Leino.[3] It is a patriotic text that celebrates Finland, as well as the natural world. For example, in the third stanza, Leino writes:
Maa! sulle kiitosta kantele soikoon, suvilaulu Suomen, tuoksussa juhannuskoivun ja tuomen, rikkaana riemuita virtemme voikoon, elonhuolet voittaa, kauneuden korkean sydänkieltä soittaa.
Earth! Let the kantele sing thee its thanks, Finland’s summer song, In the scent of the midsummer birch and hawthorn, Rich may our streams rejoice, Overcoming the cares of life, Sounding the inner voice of high beauty.
Sibelius completed the cantata in late January 1920; it premiered a few months later on 4 April 1920 (Easter Sunday) in Helsinki, with Klemetti—its dedicatee—conducting Suomen Laulu and the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra.[4]
Discographyedit
The Estonian conductor Eri Klas and the Finnish National Opera Orchestra and Chorus made the world premiere studio recording of the Hymn of the Earth in 1990 for Ondine.[1] The table below lists this and other commercially available recordings:
^This translation, by John Skinner, is from the liner notes (pg. 28) to the recording by Eri Klas and the Finnish National Opera. (E. Klas—Ondine (ODE 754-2) 1990)
^Refers to the year in which the performers recorded the work; this may not be the same as the year in which the recording was first released to the general public.
Barnett, Andrew (2005). Sibelius: Song of the Earth (booklet). Osmo Vänskä, Lahti Symphony Orchestra, & Dominante Choir. BIS. BIS CD-1365. OCLC 62255940
Barnett, Andrew (2007). Sibelius. Yale University Press. ISBN9780300111590.
Dahlström, Fabian [in Swedish] (2003). Jean Sibelius: Thematisch-bibliographisches Verzeichnis seiner Werke [Jean Sibelius: A Thematic Bibliographic Index of His Works] (in German). Wiesbaden: Breitkopf & Härtel. ISBN3-7651-0333-0.
Lascar, Pierre-Yves (2003). Sibelius: Cantatas (booklet). Paavo Järvi, Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, & Estonian National Male Choir. Virgin Classics. 7243 5 45589 2 4. OCLC 52897195
Okkonen, Jukka (1990). Sibelius: Cantatas (booklet). Eri Klas, Finnish National Opera Orchestra and Chorus. Ondine. ODE 754-2. OCLC 26017670
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Hymn of the Earth in Finnish Maan virsi Op 95 is a single movement patriotic cantata for mixed choir and orchestra written from 1919 to 1920 by Finnish composer Jean Sibelius The piece which is a setting of the Finnish author Eino Leino s Finnish language poem of the same name is chronologically the eighth of Sibelius s nine orchestral cantatas in particular it belongs to the series of four little known but beautiful 2 cantatas from the composer s mature period that also includes My Own Land Op 92 1918 Song of the Earth Op 93 1919 and Vainamoinen s Song Op 110 1926 Hymn of the Earth premiered on 4 April 1920 in Helsinki with Heikki Klemetti fi conducting the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra and his choir Suomen Laulu fi 1 Hymn of the EarthCantata by Jean SibeliusThe composer c 1918 Native nameMaan virsiOpus95TextMaan virsiby Eino Leino 1 LanguageFinnishComposed1919 1919 1920Duration8 mins 1 PremiereDate4 April 1920 1920 04 04 1 LocationHelsinki FinlandConductorHeikki Klemetti fi PerformersHelsinki Philharmonic OrchestraSuomen Laulu fi Contents 1 Instrumentation 2 History 3 Discography 4 Notes references and sources 4 1 Notes 4 2 References 4 3 Sources 5 External linksInstrumentation editHymn of the Earth is scored for the following instruments and voices 1 organized by family vocalists woodwinds brass percussion and strings Mixed choir SATB 2 flutes 2 oboes 2 clarinets in B and 2 bassoons 4 horns in F 2 trumpets in B and 3 trombones Timpani Violins I and II violas cellos and double bassesHistory edit nbsp A 1917 painting by Akseli Gallen Kallela of Eino Leino whose poem Sibelius set in Hymn of the Earth The cantata resulted from a commission by the Finnish choral conductor Heikki Klemetti fi who had founded the mixed choir Suomen Laulu fi in 1900 and desired from Sibelius a new work that the ensemble could perform in the spring of 1920 to celebrate its twentieth anniversary 3 Sibelius however was unenthused writing in his diary in January 1919 And then there s the promise I made Klemetti for a work for Suomen Laulu He is by no means one of my admirers It annoys me that he only wants to use my name as a decoration 3 By late December 1919 however Sibelius s delay tactics ceased and he began work on the piece for Klemetti Although Sibelius had planned to set Suomenmaa by the Finnish poet Aleksis Kivi he settled on Maan virsi by Eino Leino 3 It is a patriotic text that celebrates Finland as well as the natural world For example in the third stanza Leino writes Original Finnish English translation a Maa sulle kiitosta kantele soikoon suvilaulu Suomen tuoksussa juhannuskoivun ja tuomen rikkaana riemuita virtemme voikoon elonhuolet voittaa kauneuden korkean sydankielta soittaa Earth Let the kantele sing thee its thanks Finland s summer song In the scent of the midsummer birch and hawthorn Rich may our streams rejoice Overcoming the cares of life Sounding the inner voice of high beauty Sibelius completed the cantata in late January 1920 it premiered a few months later on 4 April 1920 Easter Sunday in Helsinki with Klemetti its dedicatee conducting Suomen Laulu and the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra 4 Discography editThe Estonian conductor Eri Klas and the Finnish National Opera Orchestra and Chorus made the world premiere studio recording of the Hymn of the Earth in 1990 for Ondine 1 The table below lists this and other commercially available recordings No Conductor Orchestra Chorus Rec b Time c Venue Label Ref 1 Eri Klas Finnish National Opera Orchestra Finnish National Opera Chorus 1990 7 36 Roihuvuori Church fi Ondine d 2 Paavo Jarvi Estonian National Symphony Orchestra Estonian National Male Choir 2002 7 41 Estonia Concert Hall Virgin Classics e 3 Osmo Vanska Lahti Symphony Orchestra Dominante Choir fi 2004 5 47 Sibelius Hall BIS f Notes references and sources editNotes edit This translation by John Skinner is from the liner notes pg 28 to the recording by Eri Klas and the Finnish National Opera E Klas Ondine ODE 754 2 1990 Refers to the year in which the performers recorded the work this may not be the same as the year in which the recording was first released to the general public All runtimes are official as printed on CD or LP liner notes E Klas Ondine ODE 754 2 1990 P Jarvi Virgin Classics 7243 5 45589 2 4 2003 O Vanska BIS CD 1365 2005 References edit a b c d e f Dahlstrom 2003 p 406 Lascar 2003 p 11 a b c Barnett 2005 p 6 Barnett 2005 p 6 7 Sources edit Barnett Andrew 2005 Sibelius Song of the Earth booklet Osmo Vanska Lahti Symphony Orchestra amp Dominante Choir BIS BIS CD 1365 OCLC 62255940 Barnett Andrew 2007 Sibelius Yale University Press ISBN 9780300111590 Dahlstrom Fabian in Swedish 2003 Jean Sibelius Thematisch bibliographisches Verzeichnis seiner Werke Jean Sibelius A Thematic Bibliographic Index of His Works in German Wiesbaden Breitkopf amp Hartel ISBN 3 7651 0333 0 Lascar Pierre Yves 2003 Sibelius Cantatas booklet Paavo Jarvi Estonian National Symphony Orchestra amp Estonian National Male Choir Virgin Classics 7243 5 45589 2 4 OCLC 52897195 Okkonen Jukka 1990 Sibelius Cantatas booklet Eri Klas Finnish National Opera Orchestra and Chorus Ondine ODE 754 2 OCLC 26017670External links editHymn of the Earth Maan virsi Op 95 Scores at the International Music Score Library Project Portal nbsp Classical Music Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hymn of the Earth amp oldid 1193251292, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
