Returning from his customary morning walk, an exhilarated Sibelius told his wife that he could see a flock of cranes approaching. "There they come, the birds of my youth,"he exclaimed. Suddenly, one of the birds broke away from the formation and circled once above them before rejoining the flock to continue its journey. Two days afterwards the great Finnish composer,
Jean Sibelius, died of a brain haemorrhage. September 20, 2007, marks the 50th anniversary of his death.
September, 4, 2007, marks the 100th anniversary of the death of great Norwegian composer
Edvard Grieg. Grieg drew inspiration from Norwegian folk music and is renowned as a nationalist composer; at his funeral over 30,000 lined the streets of his home town. Likewise, the music of Sibelius played an important role in the formation of the Finnish national identity. Both composers left behind some of the world's most lyrical and romantic music. Many concerts of their works are being organized to mark the anniversaries.
Labels: Grieg, music, Sibelius
