Sibelius's symphonies

English name

Jean Sibelius

Life

1865–1957

Country

Nordic

Mainly active in

Helsinki · Järvenpää (Ainola)

Symphony

7 symphonies

In a line

The Finnish composer who wrote the tone poem 'Finlandia'

Fun to know

• A melody he jotted down in 1915 after seeing 16 swans fly became the finale of No. 5
• No. 5 was premiered in Helsinki on December 8, 1915, his 50th birthday
• The one-movement No. 7 was billed at its premiere not as a 'symphony' but as a 'symphonic fantasia'

7 symphonies

• Symphony No. 1E minor · 1899 · about 38 minThe first symphony, opened by a solo clarinet
• Symphony No. 2D major · 1902 · about 46 minA Nordic symphony that began under the Italian sun
• Symphony No. 3C major · 1907 · about 31 minThe 'What is a symphony?' conversation with Mahler
• Symphony No. 4A minor · 1911 · about 35 minThe darkest symphony, the one audiences avoided looking at
• Symphony No. 5E♭ major · 1919 · about 31 minThe finale where 16 swans took flight
• Symphony No. 6D minor · 1923 · about 26 minA glass of cold spring water instead of a cocktail
• Symphony No. 7C major · 1924 · about 22 minThe last symphony, in a single 20-minute movement