JEAN SIBELIUS (1865 - 1957)
Here is a recommendation for those who wished to explore the same classical sounds that Bukowski immersed himself in throughout his life. According to the references in Bukowski's poems, Sibelius was one of his favorite top 10 composers. I can see why. The world of Sibelius is a fantastic fairyland of sounds. The great conductor Leopold Stokowski had this to say about Sibelius's 2nd Symphony, and I think the same things could be said for all 7:
"His music is like a song of all the people, and all the forests and lakes of his country. He sings the exotic oriental, and the exhilarating Northern spirit of Finland's Life and Art.... Although in classical form, it is a free and rhapsodic expression of Sibelius' inner life of feeling and fantastic imagination.... Sibelius retains the classical four parts of symphonic form, but fills them with utterly original and often explosive music. Great music always has great themes"”these themes, or melodies, or "tunes,""”remain in the listener's memory to be sung or whistled as an intimate part of the music-lover's life. This Symphony has inexhaustible variety of themes and moods, sometimes rustic, as if voices of people, at other times like fantastic cries of Nature"”rushing, impulsive waves of sound, like violent wind on the surface of a lake, or through the high trees of a forest. At still other times the theme begins small, like a seed or germ, and gradually grows into the completed form of its final statement and musical message. In some parts is an atmosphere of melancholy loneliness, as in remote distances of the Northland, which suddenly changes into a mood of human warmth and tenderness. This Symphony is remarkable for the long lines and almost primitive simplicity of its themes, as if Nature were singing"”deep voices surging out of the earth"”higher voices answering and contradicting each other, with a feeling of conflict. Sometimes individual instruments seem to be talking to each other in friendly agreement and sympathy"”at other times masses of instruments seem to be driven and lashed by inexorable Fate. Typical of Sibelius is contrast of the savage with the tender, of the dark timbres with the brilliant, of the combining of a theme expressing both Fate and Hope, sounding in relief above a melancholy and monotonous background. Typical also the vast vistas of the final growth where all the themes combined lead triumphantly to the ultimate statement, which culminates the whole symphony with eloquent expression of human warmth, strength, compassion, love."
I agree with Stowoski's sentiments entirely! And Sibelius just happens to be a bargain, used prices, which I've had very good success with, if you're looking for a complete set of his remarkable symphonies, containing almost 4 hours of sublime music. I was lucky enough to get the performances conducted by Lorin Maazel, and they are tremendous and satisfying...highly recommended, always sounding fresh and new like a bubbling spring in the midst of winter. To quote one of the Amazon.com reviewers: "There's a real sense of excitement in these recordings and they are full of vitality and character."
http://www.amazon.com/Sibelius-Symp...ef=sr_1_6/104-6522011-8126367?ie=UTF8&s=music
"”Poptop.
Here is a recommendation for those who wished to explore the same classical sounds that Bukowski immersed himself in throughout his life. According to the references in Bukowski's poems, Sibelius was one of his favorite top 10 composers. I can see why. The world of Sibelius is a fantastic fairyland of sounds. The great conductor Leopold Stokowski had this to say about Sibelius's 2nd Symphony, and I think the same things could be said for all 7:
"His music is like a song of all the people, and all the forests and lakes of his country. He sings the exotic oriental, and the exhilarating Northern spirit of Finland's Life and Art.... Although in classical form, it is a free and rhapsodic expression of Sibelius' inner life of feeling and fantastic imagination.... Sibelius retains the classical four parts of symphonic form, but fills them with utterly original and often explosive music. Great music always has great themes"”these themes, or melodies, or "tunes,""”remain in the listener's memory to be sung or whistled as an intimate part of the music-lover's life. This Symphony has inexhaustible variety of themes and moods, sometimes rustic, as if voices of people, at other times like fantastic cries of Nature"”rushing, impulsive waves of sound, like violent wind on the surface of a lake, or through the high trees of a forest. At still other times the theme begins small, like a seed or germ, and gradually grows into the completed form of its final statement and musical message. In some parts is an atmosphere of melancholy loneliness, as in remote distances of the Northland, which suddenly changes into a mood of human warmth and tenderness. This Symphony is remarkable for the long lines and almost primitive simplicity of its themes, as if Nature were singing"”deep voices surging out of the earth"”higher voices answering and contradicting each other, with a feeling of conflict. Sometimes individual instruments seem to be talking to each other in friendly agreement and sympathy"”at other times masses of instruments seem to be driven and lashed by inexorable Fate. Typical of Sibelius is contrast of the savage with the tender, of the dark timbres with the brilliant, of the combining of a theme expressing both Fate and Hope, sounding in relief above a melancholy and monotonous background. Typical also the vast vistas of the final growth where all the themes combined lead triumphantly to the ultimate statement, which culminates the whole symphony with eloquent expression of human warmth, strength, compassion, love."
I agree with Stowoski's sentiments entirely! And Sibelius just happens to be a bargain, used prices, which I've had very good success with, if you're looking for a complete set of his remarkable symphonies, containing almost 4 hours of sublime music. I was lucky enough to get the performances conducted by Lorin Maazel, and they are tremendous and satisfying...highly recommended, always sounding fresh and new like a bubbling spring in the midst of winter. To quote one of the Amazon.com reviewers: "There's a real sense of excitement in these recordings and they are full of vitality and character."
http://www.amazon.com/Sibelius-Symp...ef=sr_1_6/104-6522011-8126367?ie=UTF8&s=music
"”Poptop.
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