I've just returned from holiday in Malta, plenty of sun, sea and ..... but no Sibelius! One evening I was lying on the bed in our hotel room, gazing at the lovely sky with one or two clouds passing by. As I relaxed, I began to hum part of the second symphony of Sibelius, that wonderful trio from the third movement. Suddenly my heart skipped a beat. Distinctly in the cloud formation I saw the heads of Sibelius and his wife Aino. It was a quite remarkable moment, within around a couple of minutes the vision had passed. This experience will be etched in my mind for some time. Pure coincidence, the result of a vivid imagination--who knows.--kp

Great experience! I don't suppose you had your camera handy?

kullervopete wrote:

I've just returned from holiday in Malta, plenty of sun, sea and ..... but no Sibelius! One evening I was lying on the bed in our hotel room, gazing at the lovely sky with one or two clouds passing by. As I relaxed, I began to hum part of the second symphony of Sibelius, that wonderful trio from the third movement. Suddenly my heart skipped a beat. Distinctly in the cloud formation I saw the heads of Sibelius and his wife Aino. It was a quite remarkable moment, within around a couple of minutes the vision had passed. This experience will be etched in my mind for some time. Pure coincidence, the result of a vivid imagination--who knows.--kp

Had drink been involved in any capacity?

Tapkaara wrote:

Had drink been involved in any capacity?

Just diet coke! Andrew I would have loved to have taken a photo but this remarkable vision was over to quick. Both profiles were from the side with Sibelius's huge dome and granit features unmistakable. Aino too was almost identical to a photo that I have seen and their ages both matched one another. I must admit that I do see animals and other objects from time to time in cloud formations when I am looking for such things, but to suddenly see Jean and Aino clearly while I was humming his music, was really something. Sibelius himself certainly had a vivid imagination, and we know that he would gaze up at the ever changing colours and patterns in the sky. A good example of Sibelius's imagination was told by Santeri Levas. They were walking in the garden one evening when Sibelius touched a pansy with his stick, that had a broad white rim and four black dots in the middle. 'That', Sibelius said, 'is Anton Sitt'. Levas looked at the flower and it was indeed the spitting image of the old leader of the City orchestra with his artist's mane and his dark eyebrows. Once Sibelius contemplated the sky for a while and remarked that all the colours's seemed different after listening to Tapiola.--kp

kullervopete wrote:

Tapkaara wrote: Had drink been involved in any capacity? Just diet coke! Andrew I would have loved to have taken a photo but this remarkable vision was over to quick. Both profiles were from the side with Sibelius's huge dome and granit features unmistakable. Aino too was almost identical to a photo that I have seen and their ages both matched one another. I must admit that I do see animals and other objects from time to time in cloud formations when I am looking for such things, but to suddenly see Jean and Aino clearly while I was humming his music, was really something. Sibelius himself certainly had a vivid imagination, and we know that he would gaze up at the ever changing colours and patterns in the sky. A good example of Sibelius's imagination was told by Santeri Levas. They were walking in the garden one evening when Sibelius touched a pansy with his stick, that had a broad white rim and four black dots in the middle. 'That', Sibelius said, 'is Anton Sitt'. Levas looked at the flower and it was indeed the spitting image of the old leader of the City orchestra with his artist's mane and his dark eyebrows. Once Sibelius contemplated the sky for a while and remarked that all the colours's seemed different after listening to Tapiola.--kp

It's a great story, Pete, and I'm sure seeing Jean and Aino in the clouds will be an image that stays with you for a long time.

How was Malta, by the way? I imagine that's a fascinating place...

we must now call pete a visionary.

dj

david johnson wrote:

we must now call pete a visionary. dj

Thanks dj --

Yes Malta is a facinating Island with a long history. This was my third visit. On the Sunday morning we got on one of British Leylands old buses [ Malta bought the lot years ago and all of them are still giving reliable service] Our destination was Valletta and its large open market, always worth a walk round. dj might be interested to know that I spotted a very old vintage Grundig wireless [radio] of the type that JS would have been familier with. Malta was awarded the George Cross during WW2 for the bravery of its people. They also drive on the left as the UK. The Malta Philharmonic actually played some Sibelius last January at the Palace in Valletta, 'Valse Romantique' opus 62b, the composer was billed as Jan Sibelius.--kp

kullervopete wrote:

the composer was billed as Jan Sibelius.--kp

The Tower Records I used to go to in La Jolla (north of San Diego) used to label him as Jan Sibelius too. I always wondered about that...

Interesting about the clouds... just this morning (before reading kullervopete's post) I was listening to the opening of the 6th and was seeing clouds in my mind's eye...

Kurkikohtaus wrote:

Interesting about the clouds... just this morning (before reading kullervopete's post) I was listening to the opening of the 6th and was seeing clouds in my mind's eye...

I suppose the metamorphosis of ever changing patterns and forms in cloud formations is a good parallel with Sibelius's music. As regards 'Jan', this was used 'incorrectly' for many years during the first half of the last century. But today it is seen only occasionaly.--kp

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Heres a good example of an image in the clouds, clearly a rabbit.-kp