En Saga
Encyclopedia
En saga is a tone poem written by the Finnish
composer Jean Sibelius
in 1892. After hearing Sibelius' choral work Kullervo
, the conductor Robert Kajanus
encouraged Sibelius to compose a purely orchestral work, which turned out finally to be this work. The evolution of this work is somewhat ambiguous, except that in 1890-1891, Sibelius had commenced composition on an octet for strings, flute and clarinet. This work evolved into a septet by September 1892, and had acquired the title "Ballet Scene No. 2" by November of that year. However, a letter to Adolf Paul dated 10 December 1892 stated that Sibelius had finished "the orchestral piece En saga".
The composer himself conducted the first performance on 16 February 1893 in Helsinki
. In the context of an invitation from Ferruccio Busoni
in 1902 to conduct the work in Berlin, Sibelius revised the work, and conducted the first performance of the final version in Helsinki on 2 November 1902.
The title is in Swedish
, Sibelius's mother tongue. He did not specify any story in it, although Sibelius did comment that any general literary inspiration was more from the Icelandic Eddas rather than the Kalevala
(the Finnish national epic). In his later years, Sibelius recounted to his secretary:
The first commercial recording of the original version of En saga was with Osmo Vänskä
and the Lahti Symphony Orchestra
(BIS CD-800). Breitkopf & Härtel published Gregory Barrett's reconstruction of a possible original chamber version, En Saga Septet, in 2003. (MUSICA RARA MR 2283). The En Saga Septet was commercially recorded by the Turku Ensemble, Finland. This recording was released on the CD Turku Ensemble: Imaginary Landscapes by Pilfink Records in 2009.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
composer Jean Sibelius
Jean Sibelius
Jean Sibelius was a Finnish composer of the later Romantic period whose music played an important role in the formation of the Finnish national identity. His mastery of the orchestra has been described as "prodigious."...
in 1892. After hearing Sibelius' choral work Kullervo
Kullervo
In the Finnish Kalevala, Kullervo was the ill-fated son of Kalervo. He is the only irredeemably tragic character in Finnish mythology.-Rune 31 - Kullervo, son of Evil:...
, the conductor Robert Kajanus
Robert Kajanus
Robert Kajanus was a Finnish conductor and composer of Swedish descent.-Life:Robert Kajanus was the most prominent Finnish composer before Jean Sibelius. His music drew on the folk legends of the Finnish people...
encouraged Sibelius to compose a purely orchestral work, which turned out finally to be this work. The evolution of this work is somewhat ambiguous, except that in 1890-1891, Sibelius had commenced composition on an octet for strings, flute and clarinet. This work evolved into a septet by September 1892, and had acquired the title "Ballet Scene No. 2" by November of that year. However, a letter to Adolf Paul dated 10 December 1892 stated that Sibelius had finished "the orchestral piece En saga".
The composer himself conducted the first performance on 16 February 1893 in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
. In the context of an invitation from Ferruccio Busoni
Ferruccio Busoni
Ferruccio Busoni was an Italian composer, pianist, editor, writer, piano and composition teacher, and conductor.-Biography:...
in 1902 to conduct the work in Berlin, Sibelius revised the work, and conducted the first performance of the final version in Helsinki on 2 November 1902.
The title is in Swedish
Swedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
, Sibelius's mother tongue. He did not specify any story in it, although Sibelius did comment that any general literary inspiration was more from the Icelandic Eddas rather than the Kalevala
Kalevala
The Kalevala is a 19th century work of epic poetry compiled by Elias Lönnrot from Finnish and Karelian oral folklore and mythology.It is regarded as the national epic of Finland and is one of the most significant works of Finnish literature...
(the Finnish national epic). In his later years, Sibelius recounted to his secretary:
"En saga is the expression of a state of mind. I had undergone a number of painful experiences at the time and in no other work have I revealed myself so completely. It is for this reason that I find all literary explanations quite alien."
The first commercial recording of the original version of En saga was with Osmo Vänskä
Osmo Vänskä
Osmo Antero Vänskä is a Finnish conductor, clarinetist and composer.He started his musical career as an orchestral clarinetist with the Turku Philharmonic . He then became the principal clarinet of the Helsinki Philharmonic from 1977 to 1982...
and the Lahti Symphony Orchestra
Lahti Symphony Orchestra
The Lahti Symphony Orchestra is a Finnish orchestra, based in the city of Lahti. It was founded in 1910 and placed under the control of the Lahti municipality in 1949. In Finland the orchestra performs in the Sibelius Hall, while it also performs abroad in concert halls and festivals...
(BIS CD-800). Breitkopf & Härtel published Gregory Barrett's reconstruction of a possible original chamber version, En Saga Septet, in 2003. (MUSICA RARA MR 2283). The En Saga Septet was commercially recorded by the Turku Ensemble, Finland. This recording was released on the CD Turku Ensemble: Imaginary Landscapes by Pilfink Records in 2009.
External links
- Full score of a number of Sibelius' tone poems, including this piece
- On-line biography of Jean Sibelius, "The Symposion years 1892-1897 \".