Spring Song (Sibelius)
Spring Song | |
---|---|
Tone poem by Jean Sibelius | |
![]() The composer in 1913 | |
Native name | Vårsång |
Catalogue | Op. 16 |
Period | Late-Romantic |
Composed | 1894 (r. 1895, 1902) |
Duration | 8 minutes |
Premiere | |
Date | 21 June 1894 |
Location | Vaasa, Finland |
Conductor | Jean Sibelius |
Spring Song (in Swedish, Vårsång) is a tone poem composed in 1894 by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius.
The piece was initially composed as Improvisation for Orchestra, in the key of D major. Sibelius recast it in F major, and retitled the work in 1895, appending the subtitle "The Sadness of Spring" to that (unpublished) version, then made final, pre-publication revisions in 1902.[1]
The piece contains an optimism that is relatively rare among Sibelius' works. It is known for its prominent use of bells at the end of the song.[2]
Structure
The work is scored for 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets (in B♭), 2 bassoons, 4 horns (in F), 4 trumpets (in F), 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, glocken, violins, violas, cellos and double basses.[3] Spring Song takes about 8 minutes to play.
![\relative c' \new Staff \with { \remove "Time_signature_engraver" } {
\key f \major \time 3/4 \tempo ""
r4^\markup \italic cantabile c\mp ( d) c4.\( bes8( d bes) c4\) f--( e-- f) c2
d4-- \( e8\> ( d e4\! d4.) \) \< c8( \> \( e c\! ) d2.\) \< d2.*5/6 s8\!
}](http://upload.wikimedia.org/score/4/s/4sqq0xlnstarxvcrzxeb0am6op5xqhh/4sqq0xln.png)
References
- ^ Erik Tawaststjerna (19 April 2012). Sibelius Volume I: 1865-1905. Faber & Faber. p. 142. ISBN 978-0-571-28717-8.
- ^ Barnett, Andrew (2007). Sibelius. Yale University Press. p. 89. ISBN 9780300111590.
- ^ Score, Sibelius: Vårsång (Frühlingslied), Breitkopf und Härtel, Leipzig, 1903
External links
- Spring Song: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
- Johnston, Blair. Spring Song at AllMusic