Today, Jean Sibelius’s fame largely rests upon his symphonies and other orchestral works. However, the composer produced, at a fairly regular pace throughout his career, many small scale works for piano and chamber groups. Indeed, these miniatures were often served as a respite for the composer while he toiled away at his grander works. Among these is his Five Pieces for Piano, op. 75, composed in 1914 while Sibelius was at work on his Fifth Symphony. Known as “Trees,” the collection is evidence of Sibelius’s love of nature.
Opening the set is “When the Mountain Ash is Blooming.” In G minor, its melody is somewhat angular, with harmonies that glide along with the distinctive sound of parallel sixths. In the latter half of the song, the melody becomes less ornamental, while the accompaniment adopts a gently pulsating syncopated rhythm. “The Lonely Pine,” however, is stately, yet at the same time austere. Towards its conclusion, one can hear the rustling of the wind in the florid arpeggios that suddenly appear.
“The Aspen,” third in the set, begins with a rather simple tune, accompanied by block chords. Somewhat trifling, the piece alternates between this opening melody and a lighter demeanor characterized by brisk arpeggios, tremolandi, and a curious little triplet figure. “The Birch” begins lively, and features a rustic melody over the sonorous sound of perfect fourths. Last is “The Spuce”, one of Sibelius’s most popular compositions for the piano. Its rippling arpeggios and enchanting melody provide a serene close to the set.Joseph DuBose
Classical Music | Piano Music
Jean Sibelius
The Lonely Pine, Op. 75 No. 2 Play
Recorded on 12/10/1997, uploaded on 01/23/2010
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
Today, Jean Sibelius’s fame largely rests upon his symphonies and other orchestral works. However, the composer produced, at a fairly regular pace throughout his career, many small scale works for piano and chamber groups. Indeed, these miniatures were often served as a respite for the composer while he toiled away at his grander works. Among these is his Five Pieces for Piano, op. 75, composed in 1914 while Sibelius was at work on his Fifth Symphony. Known as “Trees,” the collection is evidence of Sibelius’s love of nature.
Opening the set is “When the Mountain Ash is Blooming.” In G minor, its melody is somewhat angular, with harmonies that glide along with the distinctive sound of parallel sixths. In the latter half of the song, the melody becomes less ornamental, while the accompaniment adopts a gently pulsating syncopated rhythm. “The Lonely Pine,” however, is stately, yet at the same time austere. Towards its conclusion, one can hear the rustling of the wind in the florid arpeggios that suddenly appear.
“The Aspen,” third in the set, begins with a rather simple tune, accompanied by block chords. Somewhat trifling, the piece alternates between this opening melody and a lighter demeanor characterized by brisk arpeggios, tremolandi, and a curious little triplet figure. “The Birch” begins lively, and features a rustic melody over the sonorous sound of perfect fourths. Last is “The Spuce”, one of Sibelius’s most popular compositions for the piano. Its rippling arpeggios and enchanting melody provide a serene close to the set. Joseph DuBose
More music by Jean Sibelius
Symphony No. 1 (Allegro)
Violin Concerto
The Spruce, Op. 75, No. 5
Symphony no. 5
Intermezzo, from the Karelia Suite Op. 11
Ballade, from Romantic Pieces, Op. 115
Norden Op. 90 No. 1
Violin Concerto - Allegro, ma non tanto
Four Pieces, Op. 78
Nocturne Op. 51, No. 3
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