Presents
Jean Sibelius
String Quartet in d minor, Op.56, "Voces Intimae"
Sibelius wrote a fair amount of chamber music in his student years, including at least three full string quartets and a number of shorter pieces for four string players. Only one dates from his artistic maturity: the String Quartet in d minor, Op.56, subtitled "Voces intimae." It was composed in winter 1908-09 and premiered in Berlin in January 1910. It is a spare and brooding five-movement work. The subtitle, "Intimate Voices," suggests both the conversational quality of the chamber music and the inwardness of Sibelius' thoughts. The work begins with an Andante introduction, a dialog between first violin and cello, leading to the main section Allegro molto moderato, which is characterized murmuring accompaniment interested by powerful chords. Next comes a ous figuration with firm chords. The second movement, Vivace, is a fleet, ricocheting scherzo. A soulful quest for serenity, Adagio di molto lies at the center of the work. There is a sense of uncertainty harmonically. Toward the end, the music shifts gradually into a new key and suddenly three detached, soft chords are played. It was over these chords that Sibelius wrote the words "voces intimae" in a friend's score, suggesting a personal reference. A second scherzo, Allegretto ma peasante, is related to the first movement sharing that movement’s murmuring figures. The fiery finale, Allegro, has a rustic quality to it and get even more lively as the movement develops and the tempo continues to ever increase.
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) is well-known for his symphonies, violin concerto and tone poems, but none of his many chamber works has received the attention of the public that his symphonies have. Sibelius was born into a Swedish-speaking family in Hämeenlinna in the Russian Grand Duchy of Finland. Although known as "Janne" to his family, his given name was Johan, during his student years, he began using the French form of his name, "Jean", inspired by the business card of his seafaring uncle. With the rise of Finnish Nationalism, his family decided to send him to a Finnish language school. Nationalism was to become a crucial element in Sibelius' artistic output and his politics.
Parts: $23.95
Parts & Score: $29.95
