Overview

Few composers have enjoyed such critical acclaim or longevity as Jean Sibelius, who died in 1957 aged 91. Always more than simply a Finnish national figure, an 'apparition from the woods' as he ironically described himself, Sibelius's life spanned turbulent and tumultuous events, and his work is central to the story of late nineteenth and early twentieth-century music. This book situates Sibelius within a rich interdisciplinary environment, paying attention to his relationship with architecture, literature, politics and the visual arts. Drawing on the latest developments in Sibelius research, it is intended as an accessible and rewarding introduction for the general reader, and also offers a fresh and provocative interpretation for those more familiar with his music. 'A brief, thoughtful biography [and] a welcome addition to the literature on a creative master who continues to stand apart.' Tim Page, Wall Street Journal 'A wide-ranging yet taut narrative, in which the musical works are balanced with the life story. And while this is far from the first Sibelius biography, [Daniel M. Grimley] adds something new by meticulously drawing on relevant cultural, artistic, historical and political context.' BBC Music magazine

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9781789144659

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Reviews

"""With a new spring in his step across already familiar ground, Grimley reinvigorates the life-and-works format by vividly placing Sibelius within the ever-shifting artistic and geopolitical landscape of his time, and that of existing scholarship. Grimley’s elegant fusion of 'audible' musicological detail and warm human insight will enrich the academic and general reader alike."" -- Hilary Finch, former music critic,Times (UK) ""Grimley’s Jean Sibelius: Life, Music, Silence is a concise, balanced, and reader-friendly volume that combines successful biographical study with cultural-historical cross-section and discussion about up-to-date topics in the literature, such as the debate on Sibelius’s political orientation. Extending the examination beyond the standard Sibelius repertoire, the author’s perspective on the composer’s music is fresh and inventive."" -- Timo Virtanen, lecturer at Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki, editor-in-chief of the Jean Sibelius Works"

With a new spring in his step across already familiar ground, Grimley reinvigorates the life-and-works format by vividly placing Sibelius within the ever-shifting artistic and geopolitical landscape of his time, and that of existing scholarship. Grimley's elegant fusion of 'audible' musicological detail and warm human insight will enrich the academic and general reader alike. -- Hilary Finch, former music critic,Times (UK) Grimley's Jean Sibelius: Life, Music, Silence is a concise, balanced, and reader-friendly volume that combines successful biographical study with cultural-historical cross-section and discussion about up-to-date topics in the literature, such as the debate on Sibelius's political orientation. Extending the examination beyond the standard Sibelius repertoire, the author's perspective on the composer's music is fresh and inventive. -- Timo Virtanen, lecturer at Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki, editor-in-chief of the Jean Sibelius Works

Author Information

Daniel M. Grimley is Professor of Music and Professorial Fellow at Merton College, University of Oxford. His books include Delius and the Sound of Place (2018).

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