Happy 150th Birthday, Jean Sibelius! Sibelius - 'Song of the Earth' - The Captive Queen - Two Chorales - Cantata - Scout March - Hymn of the Earth - Processional - Dominate Choir, Seppo Murto - Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Osmo Vänskä - BIS 2005

OK - so for me (and likely many of you) this is a HUGE birthday in music to celebrate. Looking at the clock right now, it would seem, that I missed (that is, in a declamatory, posting sort of way) Sibelius's birthday by 1 hour and 40 minutes. Well....that's just too bad, Jean (and by Jean, I actually mean you people - that's right it's code, for those of you who might just have ruffled feathers imagining that I was going to neglect posting in honor of the birth of Scandinavia's greatest composer. Well better late than never I say, you musical rapscallions! That's right, I showed you..

So, here we have a delightful disc of lesser-known works (most of Sibelius's vocal/choral output qualifies as lesser known..) for chorus and orchestra. And there are some real gems here, which will be evident from the start, with the 14 minute "Jordens Sång" (Song of the Earth), which Sibelius composed in 1919.

The three photos above are from the Sibelius Monument in Helsinki. I rather like the structure, needless to say I'd like it much more if I could be there in the pink! (Even almost 2 hours late, Eastern-Birthday time)

-I have included the booklet notes, which is especially helpful for all of you as I'm about to fall asleep at the keyboard.

Sorry all for not adding the information on the 'Clarinet Quintets on Jewish Themes' discs yet. Things have been difficult today however I shall take care of that Wednesday evening!

Enjoy!

Sibelius_Song_Of_The_Earth-Tzadik.zip

http://www52.zippyshare.com/v/FGI260wB/file.html

Today's Birthday - Jean Sibelius - Symphony No. 6 and Symphony No. 7 - The Tempest Suite No. 2 - Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Petri Sakari

Talk about a major birthday. The Finnish master Jean Sibelius was born today December 8th, 1865, and died September 20th, 1957. He has always been in my top 10 composers and before I go to my grave someday I have promised myself that I will visit his grave, and house (Ainola).

He is undoubtedly one of the greatest symphonists the world has ever known. My favorite Sibelius symphony has always been the Sixth; it's almost too wonderful to describe...or at least I feel as if I'd do it little justice trying!! My father has always found Sibelius's 1st and 5th symphonies to be his finest, and while I love them both- well to this day still I argue with my father about the 6th and why it is indeed greater. I have many favorite recordings of the 6th, and regrettably I can't locate my absolute #1, which is Leif Segerstam and the Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra on an older Chandos disc. Neeme Jarvi's recording on BIS with The Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra is fantastic as well. The whole Sibelius cycle with Petri Sakari and the Icelandic players on Naxos however is also very impressive, and imo this disc, the last in the series, is a very fine recording, up there with some of the best. The seventh is done brilliantly as well, and Sibelius's "The Tempest" Suite (No. 2) is also very well played. My favorite Sibelius recordings are mostly (not only) on Chandos and BIS, and I wanted to post several for his birthday but I just don't have time tonight to go thru any; it's been a looooong day...thus my lack of trumpeting over the Symphony No. 6, or the disc in general. I hope you will all excuse my fatigue.

Enjoy everyone

Sibelius_Symphonies_6_&_7_The_Tempest SuiteNo.2_Tzadik.zip

http://www67.zippyshare.com/v/95072488/file.html