Composition and abandonment#

The Birth of Christ (), 64 lines # Burial (), 116 lines # Resurrection (), 85 lines Sibelius began working on the oratorio in 1905, but soon abandoned his plans the same year, likely due to a waning enthusiasm for Finne’s libretto (based on the ’s biblically inspired Runo L); the second movement (Love Song) of 1912’s (Op. 66); and, possibly, 1905’s Not with Lamentation (, JS 69), for mixed choir ; 1909’s In memoriam (Op. 59); and 1922’s Andante festivo (JS 34a).#