Some time ago I bought a CD with a collection of Sibelius' most notable piano works, of which 'The Trees' are probably the best known.

I liked them a lot - especially the Rowan-tree, the Pine and the Spruce.

Definitely, Sibelius' piano output and mastery of the moods of the instrument cannot be by any means compared to Liszt's, Chopin's or Debussy's, but nevertheless it is worth listening to.

How do you feel about his piano music in general?

Absolutely, yes. Obviously Sibelius was first and foremost a man of the orchestra, and the piano works are much criticized by people who generally haven't listened to very much of it, but his piano output is very extensive and contains some beautiful and effective music.

As for The Trees, some interesting facts have recently come to light.
First of all No.3, The Aspen, started life with the title 'Ballade', with simpler but harmonically rather interesting treatment of the main theme. The second theme - which so closely resembles the bassoon lament from the first movement of the Fifth Symphony - was a later addition.
Secondly No.5, The Spruce, also started out in a much simpler form, as a slow waltz without all of the introductory flourishes.
And originally there were to be six numbers in the suite, not five. No.6 was 'Syringa' (my wife, who knows about gardening, tells me that it isn't really a tree), a rather simple waltz. Sibelius then made a version that combined the Syringa material with The Spruce (as what amounts to a trio section) and called it Valse lyrique - a very effective concert waltz with wholly new coda material that was later discarded. Finally he decided to keep The Spruce and Syringa separate, elaborating The Spruce as mantioned and greatly extending Syringa to form the published Valse lyrique, Op.96a.
Both Syringa and the 'combination' version of Valse lyrique will in due course be published in the Breitkopf & Härtel JSW edition.

Have you tried the Op.24 set? If you like Liszt, I would imagine that this would appeal greatly, as these pieces come from precisely the period when Sibelius (post-Wagner crisis, fascinated by Symbolism) stated that 'I have found my old self again, musically speaking… really I am a tone painter and poet. Liszt’s view of music is the one to which I am closest. Hence my interest in the symphonic poem' (letter to Aino, August 1894). Of course many people are familiar with the Romance in D flat major (No.9), which was one of the last of the set to be written. But some of the others must rank among the finest of Sibelius's piano works - the daemonic/macabre dance of No.1 (Impromptu), the piano tone poem in Wood-Nymph style that is No.2 (Romance in A major), the wild, tempestuous No.3 (Caprice) that suddenly burst out into a glorious melody, or the marvellous dark colours of No.10 (Barcarole).

Wow, so much new things to me! Thanks for your informations and recommendations.

'I do not care for the piano, it cannot sing'--Jean Sibelius.

The piano works have long been overshadowed by the mighty symphonies and other orchestral works and his oft quoted remark above did not help his case. Our friend Lisztfreak has enjoyed 'The tree's and out of the one hundred and twenty or so piano works that Sibelius penned we can find many other gems. One of my favourites is ' The Snap Dragon' from the piano pieces opus 85 [1916] this piece is full of fun and good humour, who said Sibelius was all doom and gloom.

'Although today they are almost entirely forgotten' 'One day perhaps my piano pieces will be just as popular as those of Schumann'.--Jean Sibelius.

It must be remembered that the great German pianist Wilhelm Kempff even went as far as to describe one of the sonatinas 'as the most genius like movements in the whole of piano literature'--no mean praise!

'Never pay any attention to what critics say....remember, a statue has never been set up in honour of a critic'.--Jean Sibelius.

In 1965 Robert Layton in his book 'Sibelius' [Master Musicians] remarks 'There is little doubt that Sibelius is not really at home in piano music'. Jumping forward thirty two years, Guy Rickards in his biography describes the piano pieces as 'uneven in quality and generally lacking in substance'.

'My songs and piano pieces represent my innermost self'.--Jean Sibelius.

The impresario Walter Legge who founded the original Philharmonia Orchestra was visiting Sibelius at Ainola. Sibelius said 'You know you ought to go about the lakes round here, surely you can hire a boat or I'll arrange you to have a motor boat. We'll fix up sandwiches and drinks for you, and look at the lakes. When I got back that evening, I said 'you know its an extraordinary thing, I came to a curious looking bridge and stood on it , munching my sandwiches, and suddenly that piano suite of yours, 'Kyllikki' came into my mind--and his eyes, which were like slits in hard blocks of ice, hardened even more, and he said : 'You know, the strange thing is, I know that bridge, and thats where the idea of Kyllikki came into my mind.'

The piano works are slowly gaining ground and Sibelius's forcast that it would take untill the end of the century before they came into there own could yet be vindicated.--kullervopete.

First of all, kullervopete, thanks for the colourful and insightful essay!

I enjoyed this one quite a bit:

kullervopete wrote:

'Although today they are almost entirely forgotten' 'One day perhaps my piano pieces will be just as popular as those of Schumann'.--Jean Sibelius.

We musn't forget that amidst all the "Doom and Gloom", Sibelius had a finely tuned sense of humour and occaisonally enjoyed a little bit of Schnapps.

'Above all you must have a sense of humour, it is the greatest gift a man can have.--Jean Sibelius.



Ha...Ha...Ha, sorry but I just can't help seeing the funny side---Sib immerses himself in schnapps, cocktails and booze and then offers us music lovers pure spring water!

Seriously though, I hope that Andrew B's forthcoming book will give a more balanced view of the masters piano pieces.--kullervopete.

kullervopete wrote:

'Above all you must have a sense of humour, it is the greatest gift a man can have.--Jean Sibelius. Ha...Ha...Ha, sorry but I just can't help seeing the funny side---Sib immerses himself in schnapps, cocktails and booze and then offers us music lovers pure spring water! Seriously though, I hope that Andrew B's forthcoming book will give a more balanced view of the masters piano pieces.--kullervopete.

I am very glad that I have read your post. This really helps me to solve my problem.



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First of all a big welcome to Annady 17. I'm pleased that my comments have helped with your problem. You know we all have our crosses to bear in this life, but I've found that a good dose of Sibelius works a treat. -kp

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I'm wondering if Annady17 is a bot ...

Annady can you confirm your flesh-and-blood existance by responding in this thread or sending me a private message?

Thanks.