July 2, 1900: debut of Finlandia by Jean Sibelius

When I say Finnish composer, there should be one name that springs automatically to mind. Among trivia buffs, such a connection is called a Pavlovian response, after the famous Russian scientist with the salivating canines.

On this day in 1900, Finlandia by Jean Sibelius made its debut.

Finlandia (Opus number 26) is a symphonic poem around eight minutes in length. The seventh and final piece in a series about Finnish history, it is a roman à clef of sorts: a complaint of increasing press censorship by Russian overseers.

Its ominous opening is quite familiar, and foreshadows a rousing piece representing the people’s attempts to be heard. The quieter ending has since become known as the Finlandia Hymn, now one of the country’s national songs.

Image: Sibelius monument in Helsinki by Eila Hiltusen (1922 – 2003). Photo by user nykyinen (2011), Wikimedia Commons