The Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 39, is a four-movement work for orchestra written from 1898 to 1899 by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius.

The work was first performed on 26 April 1899 by the Helsinki Orchestral Society, conducted by the composer, in an original version which has not survived. After the premiere, Sibelius made some revisions, resulting in the version performed today. The revised version was completed in the spring and summer of 1900, and was first performed in Berlin by the Helsinki Philharmonic, conducted by Robert Kajanus on 1 July 1900, as the German premiere. The British premiere was on 13 October 1903 at the Promenade Concerts, conducted by Henry Wood.

The symphony is characterized by its use of string and woodwind solos; the first movement opens with a long and discursive clarinet solo over a timpani roll; (this idea returns at the start of the fourth movement, fortissimo in the strings, with wind and brass chordal accompaniment), and subsequent movements include violin, viola, and cello solos.

Most performances of the work last between 35 and 40 minutes. Many conductors choose to slacken the speeds suggested by Sibelius's metronome markings, particularly in the fast part (allegro energico) of the first movement. Because of this, many versions of the symphony are about 38–40 minutes long (the publishers suggest the duration is 40 minutes).<!--Awful lot on duration; little on more important aspects such as form.-->

Instrumentation

The First Symphony is scored for the following instruments, organized by family (woodwinds, brass, percussion, and strings):

  • 2&nbsp;flutes (each doubling piccolo), 2&nbsp;oboes, 2&nbsp;clarinets (in&nbsp;A for Movements&nbsp;I and&nbsp;IV; in B for Movements II–III), and 2&nbsp;bassoons
  • 4&nbsp;horns (in&nbsp;F), 3&nbsp;trumpets (in&nbsp;F), 3&nbsp;trombones, and tuba
  • Timpani, bass drum, cymbals, and triangle
  • Violins (I&nbsp;and II), violas, cellos, double basses, and harp

Movements

Like most symphonies, it is in four movements:

Discography

The Finnish composer Robert Kajanus and the London Symphony Orchestra (credited as the "Symphony Orchestra" for contractual reasons) made the world premiere studio recording of the First Symphony on 21–23&nbsp;May 1930 at Westminster Central Hall, for the Columbia Graphophone Company (Columbia LX&nbsp;65/69, 1931). (Two years later, in 1932, the British record producer Walter Legge founded the His Master's Voice Sibelius Society, a subscription service that promised to record "all his [Sibelius's] major works and to culminate in the forthcoming Eighth Symphony". Kajanus's pioneering recording of the First Symphony was incorporated retroactively into this cycle.)

Notes

References

Sources

  • "First symphony Op. 39 (1899–1900)", history and analysis, sibelius.info
  • Flying Inkpot review