Sibelius: Andante festivo

[sjmachin]

i dont like this version

i first heard it when i was a child

and it took me decades to find it again

i prefer Sibelius himself in the 1939 radio version

on youtube video OPb5UpAK4iM (i think!)

[MissJesusfan]

Beautiful.

[EsaiasP]

Thanks, lovely.



[itapirkanmaa]

The link to Sibelius conducting this piece:

yle.fi/elavaarkisto/artikkelit­/sibelius_johtaa_andante_festi­vonsa_7142.html

[Heikkibat]

Minä itken. Se on liian kaunis kuin olamaan tosi. :'-)

[fredjmp]

Wonderful!

[EsaiasP]

There is only one recording of Sibelius conducting his music himself, it is Andante Festivo from 1 january 1939 radio transmission to America. It is not allowed to add link here. Therefore seach this in Internet sibelius_johtaa_andante_festiv­onsa

[classicnorthwest]

@EsaiasP If you go to NPR Classical, and search "Dinner With The Dead: Questioning Composers From The Great Beyond", there is a recording of Sibelius conducting Andante Festivo, on that article.

[codypalooza]

420 smoke weed all day sibelius str8 thuggin #1 []D [] []\/[] []D

[MaxRideWizardLord]

Sibelius is Russian?

[Deythibi]

@MaxRideWizardLord Sibelius was Finnish.

[DarkLaboratory]

@MaxRideWizardLord Nope, he's from Finland

[frenchnicodeme66]

Magnifique et intense musique qui décrit bien le style de répertoire de Sibelius.

[16schop]

I play at weddings quite often with a string quartet, and when I played this at a wedding the other day and it was the first time i felt any emotion during a ceremony in a long time.

[thevectorfilms]

This is a great song, but i think some of the parts could be better written to give a better fit between phrases.

[xaviervandepoll]

@thevectorfilms

Lol, that post...

Do you have any idea how hard it is to write for strings?

[thevectorfilms]

@xaviervandepoll Yes, i play and occasionally compose for the cello. I never said this was a bad song, just that it breaks in some parts that don't sour like they should be a break.

[kolaboy]

@thevectorfilms

You're joking?

[Fashionandballet]

I can only imagine this great piece remastered today...I wonder if sibelius meant for the piece to have such emotion?

[EsaiasP]

@Fashionandballet There is only one recording of Sibelius conducting his music. It happens to be this piece and it is wonderful, slow and very very emotional. Unfortunately it is not allowed to add the link there but it is in the Finnish radio archives.

[EsaiasP]

@EsaiasP search these words in internet sibelius_johtaa_andante_festiv­onsa

[74bomayemcfc]

I woke up yesterday morning with the usual monday morning feeling not quite in the best mood but heard this on the radio and my mood took a sharp u turn...A great piece of music!...

[FurretLover100]

Played this with my Orchestra! :') Viola FTW!

[X0funnybunn0Xy26]

being a violist, this is one of my favorite songs to play! the violas get be be awesome all the time in this song.

[silverpants1001]

this is an amazing piece. and this video helped me out with learning it soooooo much!

[SNAKENEAK]

Les violons frémissent de sons torturés, enivrant mon être d'une douce mélancolie ne pouvant être exprimer que ces fines gouttelettes ruisselant le long de mes joues ou le poil fin, fût hérissé

Une intensité désinvolte dans l'approbation des fortissimo donnés, des frissons équivoques parcourant avec intensité les remparts névralgiques de mon être...

Merci à toi Sibelius pour ce moment dramatique.

[TheAnav]

Most beautiful piece of music EVER <3 Jean....ihanaaaaaaa <3

[KRissRooTs]

Finding and listening to music like this is a valid and true reason to keep searching for something more.

[Gorax90]

@KRissRooTs E.g?

[KRissRooTs]

@Gorax90 Chopin (obviously, the Nocturnes; I really appreciate the Barenboim recordings), Beethoven (quite everything, for istance, his late piano works; Pollini has done a great recording), Arvo Part (Arbos, Te Deum, ecc.), Ravel (I really appreciate his piano works, awesome), Liszt ("Années de Pèlegrinage"), Bach (Suites for Cello, as recorded by Wispelwey), ecc.

And I am talking only about Classical music..

..or you were asking about something more "spiritual", "philosophical"? ;)

[Emman27running]

I love how the violas and violins share the same melody at times. ;)

[mysweetrarefish]

this is true music!!!, lovely!!!

[MyLifesAGame]

This piece has so much passion and emotion in it. it is so powerful yet beautiful.

[mizukiyko]

凄い視覚的にも楽しいですね～これ位弾けたらもっと楽しいのだろ­うなーと聴かせて頂きました

[maestroanth]

trash = me and I do have PP. It's beautiful. But beauty does not = PP.

[23062001805616]

Sounds of Scandinva. Wonderful!! Hypnotic!!! Powerful!!!!

[ujibo42]

Very true. Many people do not realize the true meanings of music markings. Andante is (I believe) generally around 100 BPM, but several other markings have been commonly misinterpreted, such as the tempo marking on Beethoven's 7th Symphony, in the second movement.

[Guzzimies]

Tällainen,,eroittaa ihmisen eläimestä. Kiitos tosi paljom..

[XRosemary3X]

they say andante means slow and it's played too fast, but Sibelius put it in cut time.

[BBHelicon]

@XRosemary3X andante means to walk

[cimarosabunnies]

@XRosemary3X It is a common mistake to translate "andante" as "slow," but this is incorrect. It actually means "to go" and is more lively than most people realize.

[alexpjp]

@cimarosabunnies I think it is fair to say that every Italian tempo marking - particularly in non-Italian composers - is individual to the, and sometimes even to each piece.

I would prefer this movement just a tad faster, like, for example, Thomas Dausgaard does it.

[cava100]

This would work great as a wedding march... What do you think? Would need string quartet, as Jean meant this song to be played... Sad and same time beautiful, as weddings usually are... Men are giving up their bachelority and go forward to true relationship with no return... :) Just kidding...

[definespastic]

try changing the images to northern lights

[definespastic]

the composer was actually trying to depict the northern lights when he composed this piece of music.

[Eightballlsss]

Just played this for an honors Orchestra concert conducted by Dr. Paul Cobbs

[Samuli10]

Huippu!

[dudemaister96]

I played this whit 16 other cellist and went to this ''flo'' state of mind. Pure genious! Tuli niin suomalainen fiilis, ettei osaa kuvailla.

[beanzaronii]

Sibelius captured god on paper

[Kiikkanen]

@beanzaronii How beautifully said. :)

[uskid418]

where is the love button???

[CELESTA62]

I had goosepimple and tears in my eyes when I heard it for the first time. Just love it

[PieniPeippo]

Thank you, it's very beautiful!

[MrSpiration]

like taking a festive stroll

[bonnieisarabbit]

so beautiful :) Just played this in three beautiful locations in Italy :) this piece will forever remind me of the wonderful times spent there <3

[PatLPauloski]

how did 5 people miss the "like" button? This piece is one of the best pieces ever written!

[sammasati7]

Undescribable beauty !

[sammasati7]

Wordless beauty !!!!!

[APSOC38]

I'm saving this to my favorites.

[Nationsnotregimes]

Who but a misfit or radical marxist POS would neg rep this video?

Hail his music for all times !

[Vanzetti1936]

@Nationsnotregimes this video reminds me of the humanity of marxism. Thank for giving my love of this piece a new political impetus.

[childofthemarshalsea]

@Vanzetti1936 What humanity did Marxism have?

[Vanzetti1936]

@childofthemarshalsea All the Humanity that was left out of Stalinist, Maoist or liberal democratic doctrines

[jordannnn8x]

This piece can bring me to tears it is so beautiful. Classical music at its best. Bravo to Jean Sibelius.

[M55q]

Rehearsed this today together with the orchestra. It is a amazing piece to play and listen to. Breathtaking, timeless... it's just perfect!

[whojtv1991]

I remember playing this my first year of high school and fell in love with this. Although none of it was in first position it really made my vib. better. Thank you Sibelius!!

[talquino300]

Creo, que es el mejor músico del siglo XX, nadie como él, su música me llega al alma y en especial esta pieza ni una sóla nota está de más. una obra exquisita de verdad, saludos desde Chile.

[steve10005]

Did Sibelius compose this for a wedding?

[mikkoteee]

@steve10005 In Sibelius biography it says that he heard this in he´s dream.

[sisterspure]

...sublime, exquisitely beautiful, powerful - and that wonderful "Amen" at the end!

[JesusofSuBurbia1001]

Order of our concert pieces 1. Mantras-Richard Meyer 2. Andante Festivo 3. Holberg suite

[bag12]

Thats funny mine was Andante festivo and another Richard Meyer piece

[lolbox123]

@JesusofSuBurbia1001

weird, my orchestra is playing Andante festivo and holberg.

[sisterspure]

...sublime, exquisitely beautiful, powerful - and that wonderful "Amen" at the end!

[MarcheseCadmio88]

I love the passion that Sibelius puts in strings' phrases...

[sorazgurl]

Im playing this piece tonight. :]

[corporate88slave]

very powerful. I think of spring, when the snow has started to melt away. Not a winter landscape. It reflects the hardship of the people but also the greatness of the landscape.

It also gives me a feeling of hope.

[brucewwoods]

This is a brilliant video with one of the most beautiful pieces of Sibelius' music.

Sibelius has always been one of my favourite composers and I think he is the probably the greatest classical composer of the 20th century.

[MrDannybm88]

really no rest? are you sure?!! well i doubt u'll be back to answer that, hehehh

[KeenerCA]

there is not a single note of rest in this song for every single instrument

[ceckviolinist]

Bass have rests often in the piece

[termis69]

Jean Sibelius, one of our national heroes!

[pianoman1189]

After a rehearsal Sibelius had with the orchestra, he looked at them and proclaimed "play with more humanity!" So powerful.

[JSC1401]

"Louder or softer, maestro?"

[clarasmus]

ohh wow, sibelius is the beast, viva finlandia!!!

[laertesdd]

the beast? i'd say: at least, but rather: the best.

[Mackeson3]

Allegretto festivo ! a lovely piece totally and utterly ruined by too fast a tempo. The composer's own recording is still by far the best performance.

[silex17]

I disagree. Sibelius' recording is beautiful too, emphasizes each moment. This recording is more lively, and even though I usually prefer slower recordings, this time I really appreciate this more dynamic and youthful approach. I feel that nothing is lost, but freedom is gained.

[mangomelon]

yes, Sibelius is our national composer this is really bad thing. They shouldn't play this so fast, it's an insult for my Finnish heart, and for Sibelius. How dare you? :(

[steve10005]

It maybe a little fast, and yes it may need to slow down, but it still sounds beautiful.

[JSC1401]

How fast is andante?

How fast is festivo?

[JSC1401]

During 40 years he hardly composed anything...

[mangomelon]

Festivo doesn't mean how fast it should be, but this is really played too fast. Andante should be slower. Of course it's beautiful, but too fast. And if you mean that Sibelius hasn't composed anything during 40 years, have you noticed: he is dead. Sibelius, our national composer doesn't mean Andante Fertivo that fast. Than k you.

[JSC1401]

lol

No, I meant during the last 40 years of his life.

I once remember in London going to a Handel opera with baroque instruments, ornaments, and performers dressed in period costumes.

A member of the Royal Family arrived just before, so we all stood and the orchestra played the national anthem..... about twice as fast as usual and with for example a trill on the fourth note and notes inégales near the end.

We were surprised, but rather than crying "shock, horror, scandal", we smiled.

[yardanna]

Great, but, as mentioned already, alas, too fast. You should hear the recording of Sibelius conducting this, mesmerizing.

[iamkwk]

You are right! The original recording is on youtube. It is almost 2 minutes longer than this version. Since the piece was conducted by it creator, I would think that it should be slower than than this one. This one is fine but you can't beat the original.

[mangomelon]

yes! finally a person who understand a real value of this composition. THANKS :) ( I'm Finnish, like our national composer, J.Sibelius)

[physcannon]

I listened to this since young

[teecakescorpio]

Its amazing how a song so easy to play has such a remarkable effect on u. This song has me in tears almost everytime i hear it.

[mangomelon]

too fast! this is really too fast oh no don't you understand it's ANDANTE festivo, noa allegro festiv olike this oooh noooo :(((((

[sergeispbru]

exellent

[Janneman3k]

its so typical Fins, im starting to learn your language and one day i will be there to watch the northern light and meet some friendly people. But really, i love this piece, i can play it over and over.

[riisisuklaa]

me soitettiin tämä meidän kevätkonsertissa. Soitan klarinettiä ja tästä kappaleesta oli tehty sovitus puhallinorkesterille. Aika rankka se on kyllä vetää puhaltimille.

[Apinaruhtinas]

Lakkiaisissa soittivat tätä ja oli niin hieno fiilis ku soi toi paras kohta 1:28 kun kävelin portaita alas saliin

[jippo]

Tämä on niin kaunis kappale! This is the most beautiful piece I have never hear!

<3

I start cry when I've hear this 1st time.

I love this piece.

<3

[percsam07]

Very beautiful piece. Wish I had played something like this when I was in orchestra, and I would love teaching a piece like this to students now.

[NoddyShoulder]

Have you noticed that Tuomas Holopainen of Nightwish is kind of modern Sibelius?

[mursum151]

Definitely not, we are not to compare those trash "musicians" to great masters like Sibelius.

[Resiliences]

I agree on not comparing a metal, or whatever genre you consider Nightwish in, to a classical composer like Sibelius, but that doesn't mean that they would be trash.

[lezvarthok]

Mozart at his time was regarded "trash" , you know ? Treated like the generic rock genious, with the unusual character, and the ladies fanatics as well.

In addition, I am pretty much sure you dont know very much about symphonic metal or other complex modern assembles, who still know how to use methods from symphonies,and are still treated with the same disregard as usual.. I dont blame you, its just the same phenomena over and over again.

[adaugo123456789]

i played this in my orchesra ! i loved it i couldn't stop playing it !

[MrsLockley]

It's unbelievable... so nice :)

[Loppisloppan]

I played this at a concert with my orchestra today :D

[Jonza121]

HELEVETIN HIANO! :P

[madasterlrd]

WOW THT WAZ AMAZING

[musicnut24]

Sibelius is in my top 5 greatest composers,one of the best.

[khronos365]

which are your other top ones?

[phai4Qua]

I played this too at independence day of finland. I played oboe´s note with flute. It´s very easy, but as Puhemmies said, it´s hard to play it beautifully. I love it <3

[Segis84]

There are reminiscences of Grieg here, actually easier to recognize when a Norwegian orchestra is playing :) A wonderful piece, right up there at the Sibelian top.

[schlesmail]

Just noticed that the original string quartet version of the Andante Festivo from 1922 (catalog number JS34a) is now on YouTube. I think I prefer that version to this one, tho' this one packs more aural & dynamic power.

[Puhemmies]

Yeah this is a really simple song to play technically (I've played and performed it myself many, many times during the years), but the difficulty lies in playing it Well and beautifully. Expecially the cellos and contras are quite hard to play clear in this. And the high notes for violins.

[melinattttttttt]

im playing this song right now,

(1st violin)

(in middle school)

its actually kinda easy

[albert2154]

yeah im in th advanced middle school orchestra at school, and we just played it for a festival. it's pretty simple once you get it. good song :)

[RaleighDawlishRaynar]

Subject: Awkward questions ahead nicholas robinson

Anagram: I OO win - descendant - squash Barrows kin - aloha

[JasmineJean89]

I am hopelessly in love with this piece. It will always be a classic for me.

Gold.

I'd want it played at my wedding AND my funeral

[Leviwosc]

What a wonderful piece of music! Is it played by the English Symphony Orchestra under William Boughton?

[Leviwosc]

I just see again it's the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra.... :-) Excuse me.

[garramonster1111]

I play bass, we did this for a festival

middle school 8th grade

[sisterspure]

...sublime, exquisitely beautiful, powerful - and that wonderful "Amen" at the end!

[StBonifatius]

Thank you for sharing this video with me!

[ThorfinnNjal]

A friend and I enjoyed a performance of this plush piece with Neeme Järvi conducting the Göteborg Symphony orchestra, as they toured the U.S. a couple of years back (Ann Arbor, Michigan, in our instance). 'Twas a very rewarding encore presentation.

Hey! That looks an awful lot like the profile of a Norwegian Elkhound in the last image of the accompanying slideshow.

[acrrazywriter]

Great pictures!

[cmjwow8]

That orchestra needs to play louder and with more dynamics, you can barely hear a difference between piano and fortissimo. Believe me, I have the music right here (Violin I)

[acrrazywriter]

Agreed, though I have 2nd violin.

[ThaPEtter]

I think this piece sounds much better with the instruments of a marching band, much more powerful!

[JasperTwilightAlice]

I'm playing this at my school. I love it.

[tjrludicke]

i played this at the mmea allstate! i got bored of it...but it was a good type of bored....a relaxing bored

[Suomiapina]

wow beautifull pictures from north karelia..

[RaleighDawlishRaynar]

Christopher Nupen's film on Jean S introduced me to Sibelius himself conducting this on a rare recording.

It rather spoils all other versions but is still a great mini masterpiece.

[Slapazoid]

I'm with you on that. After hearing Sibelius conduct it, other versions just aren't the same. Great film, too!

[zIPPNO]

ita a amazing song orchester also plays it .!!

[yourforte]

So very beautiful

[LuRawen]

Sisu, Sauna and Sibelius!

<3

[RockStarLife4]

this is an amazing song. my orchestra is playing this at carnegie hall.

[GuardianofAges2007]

I remember playing this in my freshman year of high school. I played the 1st Violin part. This song is breathtaking!!! I fell in love with it as soon as I first played it!!!

[tasogare82]

Sibelius is everything!

[StatusFennica]

I agree with you. You are right!

[cookieluv2]

Sibelius is my absolute favorite composer. His music is so powerful. This piece is extremely beautiful. If you can also listen on BIS to Neemi Yaarvi's older recording.

[teecakescorpio]

man we r playin this in orchestra...i play the flute so im playin the 2nd violin part...it is soooo beautiful....it makes me wanna cry

[sisterspure]

...sublime, exquisitely beautiful, powerful - and that wonderful "Amen" at the end!

[orcdork111]

I love the timpani at the end- it brings so much power to the song!

[TheArkisBest]

I'm proud to be finnish when I listen to Sibelius. I think one of the famoust finnish people in the world. Just wonderful!

[BiffTheUnderstudy]

Yap.

Sibelius made me love Finland. Don't know how and why his music reflect in such perfect way the soul of this country.

[suolakurkku1]

Very true.

[StatusFennica]

Sibelius catch the soul of finn to his music. Didnt he?

Wellcome to Finland Biff!

[Lalli1987]

We played this in orchestra here in hungary. It's a lovely peace. Brings back the good old orchestrial years. Still have the 2nd violin sheet...

[pootskee33]

my orchestra teacher told our class to listen to this

im glad she did

the pictures are coolio :)

yea i said coolio be jealous

[taskun13]

this is my favorite piece :) i loved it even more when i got to play it at carnegie hall since the acoustics made it sound so good!

[worldviolist]

This is what got me into Sibelius in the first place. Beautiful music, more pure and serene even than the opening of the Sixth Symphony.

[Jewelieishness]

The melody is seamless, the bowing articulation flawless, and the intonation is true. I listen to this whenever I need to soothe my ears - thank you for sharing it. This piece is so romantic...I would consider it one of the greatest works of Sibelius.

[katoanga]

This is an amazing track and the pictures provide a wonderful visual, but I don't know if the two tell the same story.

Music is Gods Drug; my niece falls asleep to this song and I can't get enough of it! :)

[6x9equals42]

Agreed;  the pictures would be more appropriate for Finlandia.

[Javier1690]

Great music I must say....

[weallpoo]

That is very sweet music. I always think Sibelius is a woman, though. I'd like to see the northern lights one day. I think Norway may be a nice place. I used to obsess about Scandinavia, but I've never been. Mum went to Norway, and she brought back brown cheese that looked like toffee and tasted foul!

[jarilitmanen10]

Just thought I'd mention that Sibelius was Finnish, in case you thought he was Norwegian.

[RavenStarZSO]

this is very stunning ^_^

[olga2809]

Beautiful music and nice pictures