Jean Sibelius
Song of the Earth (Sibelius)
Song of the Earth (in Swedish: ; subtitled "Cantata for the Inaugural Ceremonies of Åbo Akademi University 1919"), Op. 93, is a single-movement, patriotic cantata for mixed choir and orchestra
Instrumentation#
Song of the Earth is scored for the following instruments and voices, organized by family (vocalists, woodwinds, brass, percussion, and strings): *Mixed choir () *2 flutes, 4 clarinets (or 2 oboes and 2 clarinets), and 2 bassoons *3 horns, 2 trumpets, and 2 trombones *Timpani *Violins (I and II), violas, cellos, and double basses
History#
In 1918, Åbo Akademi University was founded; the university commissioned Sibelius to compose a piece for its inauguration, originally scheduled for the spring of 1919.
Discography#
The Ukrainian-American conductor Theodore Kuchar and the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra made the world premiere studio recording of Song of the Earth in April 1987 for MILS; they were joined by two academic choirs associated with Åbo Akademi University: Florakören (a female choir) and Brahe Djäknar (a male choir). The table below lists this and other commercially available recordings:
Notes, references, and sources#
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- Composer
- Jean Sibelius