Symphony No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 82
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)

THE STORY

Sibelius’ Symphony No. 5 was commissioned by the Finnish government in 1914 to celebrate the composer at a special concert of his music the following year. His 50th birthday was declared a national holiday to honor “one of the richest spirits that were ever born in this country and the greatest creative power now living among us.”

Sibelius could claim a long string of successes, including symphonic poems, four symphonies, and his violin concerto—but health concerns plagued the composer. He had undergone 14 throat operations to remove a tumor and chafed under a medically imposed denial of his beloved cigars and wine. He made a successful visit to America, where he received an honorary doctorate from Yale University, but the outbreak of the First World War cut off his royalties from his publisher in Germany.

Originally a four-movement work at its premiere in December 1915, the symphony was revised twice over the next four years—during which time it was pared down to three movements. Sibelius wrote in his diary regarding the revisions: “I wished to give my symphony another—more human—form. More down-to-earth, more vivid.”

LISTEN FOR

• Two horns decorating an idyllic landscape of tone colors painted by flutes, oboes, and clarinets in the opening
• Variations that make up the slow Andante, characterized by sustained tones in the background and light movement in the foreground
• Tremolo figurations in the opening of the finale, with a horn motif described by musicologist Sir Donald Tovey as “Thor swinging his hammer”
• The final movement, inspired by the sight of 16 swans taking flight at once over his country home, which ends with six staggered chords—making it one of the most unusual endings in the symphonic repertoire

INSTRUMENTATION

Two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, timpani, strings

Notes on the music by Joanna Chang