FINLANDIA
In 1899 Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (b. Hameenlina, Tavastehus, Finland, 1865; d. Jarvenpaa, near Helsingfors, Finland, 1957) wrote a musical score for six historical tableaux in a pageant that celebrated and supported the Finnish press against Russian oppression. In 1900 Sibelius revised the music from the final tableau into FINLANDIA, a tone poem for orchestra. The chorale-like theme that emerges out of the turbulent beginning of this tone poem became the hymn tune. FINLANDIA was first used as a hymn tune in the Scottish Church Hymnary (1927) and in the Presbyterian Hymnal (1933). The melody features several repeated and varied 667 THE PSALMS, BIBLE SONGS, AND HYMNS melody lines. It is clearly an instrumental tune, but with diligent leadership by organ ists, congregations can sing the various cadential tones to their proper length. Because of the long lines, accompanists must work to keep the tempo moving. The tune is a glorious setting for harmony singing by choirs. This tune is also often set to the hymn text of Katharina Von Schlegel, “Stille, mein Wille, dein Jesus hilft siegen” (“Be Still, My Soul, The Lord Is On Thy Side”). Sibelius began music studies on the piano, then violin, and at one time thought of becoming a concert violinist. But he began composing at the age of ten, and his later career in music was primarily in composition. Finland’s most famous composer, Sibelius used native mythology and geography in his composition, which became a rallying point for [Liturgical Use] See PHH 496 and PHH 497. Liturgical Use: and PHH 497. 499 My God, How Wonderful You Are
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From present suffering through divine guidance to eschatological hope and eternal communion