| Contents |
Sibelius's childhood and youth: 1865-1885 -- Chamber music from Helsinki, Korpo and Lovisa: 1885-1889 -- Berlin and Vienna: 1889-1891 -- Kullervo: 1892-1893 -- The tone painter and poet: 1894-1898 -- A symphony and the death of a child: 1899-1900 -- Finland's own Beethoven, the Second Symphony: 1901-1903 -- The Violin Concerto and first years at Ainola: 1904-1906 -- Young classicism, the Third Symphony: 1907-1909 -- The Fourth Symphony and expressionism: 1910-1912 -- A visit to America: 1913-1914 -- Miniatures and the Fifth Symphony: 1914-1919 -- The Sixth Symphony: 1920-1923 -- The Seventh Symphony and Tapiola: 1923-1926 -- Life and works of the later years: 1927-1957. |
| Abstract |
Informed by a wealth of information that has come to light in recent years, this biography tells the complete story of the life and musical work of Sibelius. Drawing on Sibelius's own correspondence and diaries, contemporary reviews and the remarks of family and friends, the book presents a rich account of the events in the musician's life. In addition, this volume is the first to set every work and performable fragment by Sibelius in its historical and musical context. The biography also provides the first accurate information about much of the composer's early music. Writing for the general music-lover, the author combines his own knowledge of Sibelius's music with the insights of other scholars and musicians. He lays to rest a number of myths and untruths--that Sibelius wrote no chamber music of value, for example, and that he stopped composing in 1926 and didn't need to compose to earn a living. The author completes the volume with the most thorough worklist available and a chronology of Sibelius's entire output. |
| General note | Appendix II, Catalogue of works by Jean Sibelius: pages 374-418. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (pages 419-420), discography (pages 421-426), and index. |
| LCCN | 2007932450 |
| ISBN | 9780300111590 (hbk.) |
| ISBN | 0300111592 (hbk.) |
