Second among the three children, Jean Sibelius, the great music composer was born in Southern Finland. Jean was a talented violinist. He composed his first work ‘Rain Drops’ at the age nine. Jean Sibelius is the most acclaimed composer in Finland. He blended nationalism in music. He was highly instrumental in shaping the symphony and symphonic poem. Sibelius studied law for one year in 1895 at the University of Helsinki but was again drawn back to music. Then he started learning composition with Martin Wegelius. He studied violin first with Mitrofan Wasiliev and then with Hermann Csillag. He also became a close friend of Busoni during this time. Even though auditioned for the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Sibelius soon realized that his career as a violinist may not be a permanent one.
To study counterpoint with Albert Becker, Sibelius went to Berlin. There he became familiar with the new trend in music especially with that of Richard Strauss. It was in 1889. He studied with Karl Goldmark and then Robert Fuchs in Vienna. Of them Robert Fuchs was considered to be the most valuable teacher to Sibelius. At this juncture Sibelius started contemplating on composition of the Kullervo Symphony which had its roots... show more

Second among the three children, Jean Sibelius, the great music composer was born in Southern Finland. Jean was a talented violinist. He composed his first work ‘Rain Drops’ at the age nine. Jean Sibelius is the most acclaimed composer in Finland. He blended nationalism in music. He was highly instrumental in shaping the symphony and symphonic poem. Sibelius studied law for one year in 1895 at the University of Helsinki but was again drawn back to music. Then he started learning composition with Martin Wegelius. He studied violin first with Mitrofan Wasiliev and then with Hermann Csillag. He also became a close friend of Busoni during this time. Even though auditioned for the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Sibelius soon realized that his career as a violinist may not be a permanent one.
To study counterpoint with Albert Becker, Sibelius went to Berlin. There he became familiar with the new trend in music especially with that of Richard Strauss. It was in 1889. He studied with Karl Goldmark and then Robert Fuchs in Vienna. Of them Robert Fuchs was considered to be the most valuable teacher to Sibelius. At this juncture Sibelius started contemplating on composition of the Kullervo Symphony which had its roots in the Kalevala legends. On returning to Finland Sibelius taught music, In 1895 he married Aino Jarnefelt, daughter of General Alexander Jarnefelt, head of the most affluent families in Finland. Sibelius created real ripples with his premiere of Kullervo in 1893. Since then he was regarded as the leading Finnish composer. Until that time, his ‘Lemminkainen suite’ was considered to be the most significant one by Sibelius which was commenced in 1895 and premiered in 1896.
The Finnish Senate approved a short term pension to Sibelius in 1897. After some years, he was honored with a life time pension. In fact This was given as compensation to his loss of a key professorship in composition at the music school. Robet Kajanus bagged this post from Sibelius. Sibelius’ First Symphony was a remarkable success in the year 1899. Any way it could not match the same level of success of Finlandia (1899; rev.1900).
The next decade saw Sibelius as an International composer in the concert world. Several of his works were launched abroad by Kajanus. Sibelius went to Heidelberg and Berlin on invitation to conduct his music. Though Sibelius was averse to the idea of affixing programmatic ideas to his music, his Second Symphony in the year 1901 was acknowledged as a testimonial of independence for Finland. It was in the year 1903, his one and only symphony for violin arrived.
He was acknowledged as the greatest living composer of symphonies in general. At the insistence of Granville Bantock Sibelius visited England in 1905 and more trips followed. He conducted his latest work The Oceanides in 1914 at Norfolk, CT. His visit in 1921 was the last trip to England. After three years he completed his Seventh Symphony.
Sibelius constructed a cottage outside Helsinki in 1904. He named it “Ainola” in memory of his wife. There after he spent his 53 years of his life in this house. Sibelius had an operation for throat tumor in 1908. Due to the medical advice he had to skip alcohol and tobacco till 1915. It is opined his ill health lead to depressed mood in his music during this period. Sibelius lived a quiet and peaceful life during his last 30 years working on revisions only. His 90th birthday was celebrated worldwide in 1955 with plenty of his music performances. In 1957 Sibelius breathed his last with cerebral hemorrhage. Supplementary music for The Tempest in 1925 was his last work.
show less