Jean Sibelius -- Symphony No. 2 -- Score

At the time of writing his Second Symphony, Jean Sibelius was already a renowned cultural figure in his native Finland. Baron Axel Carpelan raised funds for Sibelius to spend the autumn and winter of 1901 in Italy, where he commenced work on the symphony, completing it back home the following year. It was premiered in 1902, then was revised slightly in 1903 into its final form.

The public reaction to the symphony was overwhelmingly positive, with listeners hearing it as another expression of Finnish patriotism and desire for independence, particularly in the final movement, with the lyrical ascending theme dueling with the ostinato and finally breaking out into a grand, glorious restatement at the very end. Some called it the "Symphony of Independence", similar to his previous work, the much more overt "Finlandia". Whether Sibelius actually intended this reaction, or wrote with this theme in mind, is unclear; he gave the work no title or program notes. He did, however, state that "My second symphony is a confession of the soul."

0:00 First Movement
10:02 Second Movement
24:08 Third Movement
30:12 Fourth Movement

This video is produced for educational purposes, for the benefit of amateurs, enthusiasts, and professional musicians alike. No claim of ownership is made over the component parts of this video.

[progmanhuge]

Many years ago I too had the pleasure of performing this with a youth orchestra with members selected from around the UK for the sole purpose of rehearsal and performance of this symphony (I can't remember the other pieces we performed) - my lasting memory was the trumpet part being played by a brass band player who continued to apply the vibrato that is associated with such bands - contrary to the purists, it actually worked, so much so that I can remember with great fondness this symphony. (PS I was a tuba player).

[contrasaurusband]

Lucky to have played this last Summer (double bass) with local reasonable amateur orchestra. totally taken by the piece, heard it recently played as it should be by the LPO who were wonderful (as ever!). 2nd movement, wonderful.

[ututat]

Today (eight day of December) is the birthday of Sibelius which is also celebrated as the national music's day in Finland. I leave this comment today on all the Sibelius videos I listen, as to mark the occasion.

[miikapaananen]

Great to read transcription simultaneously

[jake_fx]

Played this at the proms with NYOGB. One of my favourite symphonies, the 2nd movement especially, haunting beautiful at moments

[lamontwilder]

I have the pleasure of playing this Symphony as a second violinist with the Saint Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra on March 27th of this year. And honestly, I love the whole thing, including the ascending scale at the end. Also, thanks for the enlarged score, it helped me a lot!

[jochanaan]

It is possible we'll never hear such an orchestral sound again. Leopold Stokowski built the sound, and Ormandy maintained it for 42+ years. Riccardo Muti supposedly "updated" the sound to be more flexible, but something precious was lost that not even Wolfgang Sawallisch could recover.

[queeg]

One of my favorites to play on timps. Your arms are falling off at the end and the conductor ALWAYS wants a crescendo on the second to last chord....

[steve]

Thank you! My God, the Philadelphia Orchestra was spectacular back then (still great, mind you)!

[scottcalderon]

Rehearsal letter Q Trumpet solo - 41:39 (slightly before)

[victorhuang]

7:26 Such a rich texture and beautiful melody!

[NothingFunnyAboutTheseCarpets]

Am I the only one who has ALWAYS heard the first theme of the first movement starting in the one and only now realised that it’s actually starting in the middle of the bar??? My whole life has been a lie! Im even afraid of trying to feel the music as written. I don’t want to mutate my precious idea of the piece aiaiai

[davetuttle]

30:20 is what you're looking for...trumpet players...and 43:45....for all brass.

[namehhere]

Excerpt 1: 1:19
Excerpt 2: 10:52
Excerpt 3: 22:35

[Wecoc]

10:40 When you open the building mode in the Sims