Song of the Athenians (Sibelius)
| Song of the Athenians | |
|---|---|
| by Helsinki Philharmonic Society |
The Song of the Athenians (Athenarnes sång) is a work for boys chorus, male chorus, and orchestra by Jean Sibelius, the last of his Op. 31. The song runs approximately 3 minutes. [1]
Background
Sibelius wrote the song based on Viktor Rydberg’s War Song of Tyrtaeus, a poem that describes an Athenian victory over the Persians in 267 A.D. [2][3]
Finished in 1899, the Song of the Athenians was premiered the same year in
The work was the one of three published under the title 3 songs for chorus, Op. 31. Each song, however, has a different purpose and instrumentation. [1][2]
Reception
The work instantly became a symbol of Finnish patriotism and resistance to Russia oppression. Sibelius, a composer who received an otherwise mixed reception, became a leading figure of national resistance. The work was performed in every possible arrangement, and schoolchildren across the country could sing it from memory. The work still occupies a strong part of the Finnish national identity.[2][3][4]
Sibelius himself expressed annoyance that the work overshadowed his first symphony. [4]
Recordings
- Lahti Symphony Orchestra, June 6th 2000. [1]
- Erik T. Tawaststjerna, Piano, Junary 31st, 1987. [2]
- Folke Gräsbeck, Piano [3]
Reference
- ^ a b "3 Songs for Chorus, Op.31 (Sibelius, Jean) - IMSLP". imslp.org. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
- ^ a b c d "Song of the Athenians (Atenarnes sång), for b..." AllMusic. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
- ^ a b Oramo, Ilkka (2015-03-12). "Jean Sibelius – composer and patriot". Studies in music and other writings. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
- ^ a b "Works for choir and orchestra". www.sibelius.info. Retrieved 2024-06-13.