| − | '''Jean Sibelius''' (1865-1957) was a [[Finland|Finnish]] [[composer]]. Born in the [[Russia|Russian]] Grand Duchy of Finland, Sibelius' [[music]] (of the late [[Romantic period (music)|Romantic period]], and partly inspired by the idea of romantic nationalism) was to play a significant part in the formation of Finnish national identity after the country's transition from Russian Grand Duchy to independent state in 1917. Despite having been born into a Swedish-speaking family, Sibelius was sent to a Finnish speaking school. Before what was effectively a retirement from composition in the final 30 years of his life, Sibelius composed prolifically, utilizing a wide range of musical forms. | + | '''Jean Sibelius''' (1865-1957) was a [[Finland|Finnish]] [[composer]]. Born in the [[Russia]]n Grand Duchy of Finland, Sibelius' [[music]] (of the late [[Romantic period (music)|Romantic period]], and partly inspired by the idea of romantic nationalism) was to play a significant part in the formation of Finnish national identity after the country's transition from Russian Grand Duchy to independent state in 1917. Despite having been born into a Swedish-speaking family, Sibelius was sent to a Finnish speaking school. Before what was effectively a retirement from composition in the final 30 years of his life, Sibelius composed prolifically, utilizing a wide range of musical forms. |
| | His oeuvre includes seven [[symphony|symphonies]], 21 pieces of choral music, over 100 songs, an [[opera]] (''Jungfrun i tornet''), incidental music for 13 plays, [[chamber music]], piano music, [[Freemasonry|masonic]] music, a number of tone poems and what is perhaps his best-known work, the symphonic poem Finlandia. He had an unfulfilled ambition to be a concert violinist - he did however write one of the great [[violin]] [[concerto]]s. | | His oeuvre includes seven [[symphony|symphonies]], 21 pieces of choral music, over 100 songs, an [[opera]] (''Jungfrun i tornet''), incidental music for 13 plays, [[chamber music]], piano music, [[Freemasonry|masonic]] music, a number of tone poems and what is perhaps his best-known work, the symphonic poem Finlandia. He had an unfulfilled ambition to be a concert violinist - he did however write one of the great [[violin]] [[concerto]]s. |