Symphony No. 8 (Sibelius)
Encyclopedia
Jean Sibelius
's Symphony No. 8 was the last major work the composer worked on, and never completed. Today, virtually none of the score exists. The manuscript was probably burned by Sibelius in 1945. It remains one of the great mysteries of twentieth century classical music.
Sibelius produced his last major work, Tapiola
, in 1926, but he lived another thirty years, and it has been suggested that he spent much of this time working on an eighth symphony. He promised the work as early as 1930. In letters to his wife Aino
, he discusses the symphony's composition. Furthermore, there are records of him ordering large amounts of manuscript paper and of him having a large work copied out in the mid 1930s. There exists a 1937 receipt stating that a large work had been bound. He promised the premiere of this symphony to Serge Koussevitzky
in 1931 and 1932, and a London performance in 1933 under Basil Cameron
was even advertised to the public.
But, after all this, "Symphony No 8" never materialised. His wife recounts seeing him feeding manuscript papers into a fire in 1945, and some believe that among these papers was the completed Eighth Symphony. Sibelius was prone to insecurity and depression, and such destructive behaviour was not unprecedented. It was once believed that he destroyed an earlier version of his Fifth Symphony
and an extended version of the Karelia Suite
, but both have since been located.
Although Sibelius refused to discuss the matter with journalists, he did talk about the symphony privately with colleagues and friends. However, what he said was notoriously inconsistent. He told some that he had several movements written down but others were told that the symphony still only existed in his mind. Even into the 1950s, long after it was supposedly written (and supposedly destroyed), Sibelius said that he was still working on his Eighth Symphony.
For years it was believed that the only traces of the symphony that had survived were some marginalia in a copy of his Seventh Symphony
, some sketches of the symphony found in the library of Helsinki University, and Surusoitto, Op. 111b, which Aino claimed was based on material from the symphony.
However, according to Tino Virtanen, the editor-in-chief of the collected edition of Sibelius, the archives donated by Sibelius's family to the University of Helsinki
contain extensive drafts which are likely to relate to the missing symphony. Extracts from these were given an orchestral rehearsal in October 2011, and a reconstruction of all or part of the symphony may be possible from them.
Jean Sibelius
Jean Sibelius was a Finnish composer of the later Romantic period whose music played an important role in the formation of the Finnish national identity. His mastery of the orchestra has been described as "prodigious."...
's Symphony No. 8 was the last major work the composer worked on, and never completed. Today, virtually none of the score exists. The manuscript was probably burned by Sibelius in 1945. It remains one of the great mysteries of twentieth century classical music.
Sibelius produced his last major work, Tapiola
Tapiola (Sibelius)
Tapiola , Op. 112, is a tone poem by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, written in 1926. It was the product of a commission from Walter Damrosch for the New York Philharmonic Society...
, in 1926, but he lived another thirty years, and it has been suggested that he spent much of this time working on an eighth symphony. He promised the work as early as 1930. In letters to his wife Aino
Aino Sibelius
Aino Sibelius was the wife of Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. They lived most of their 65 years of married life at their home Ainola near Lake Tuusula, Järvenpää, Finland...
, he discusses the symphony's composition. Furthermore, there are records of him ordering large amounts of manuscript paper and of him having a large work copied out in the mid 1930s. There exists a 1937 receipt stating that a large work had been bound. He promised the premiere of this symphony to Serge Koussevitzky
Serge Koussevitzky
Serge Koussevitzky , was a Russian-born Jewish conductor, composer and double-bassist, known for his long tenure as music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1924 to 1949.-Early career:...
in 1931 and 1932, and a London performance in 1933 under Basil Cameron
Basil Cameron
Basil Cameron, CBE was an English conductor. He was born in Reading, Berkshire, England, the son of a German immigrant family. His birth name was Basil George Cameron Hindenberg. -Career:...
was even advertised to the public.
But, after all this, "Symphony No 8" never materialised. His wife recounts seeing him feeding manuscript papers into a fire in 1945, and some believe that among these papers was the completed Eighth Symphony. Sibelius was prone to insecurity and depression, and such destructive behaviour was not unprecedented. It was once believed that he destroyed an earlier version of his Fifth Symphony
Symphony No. 5 (Sibelius)
Symphony No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 82 is a major work for orchestra in three movements by Jean Sibelius.-History:Sibelius was commissioned to write this symphony by the Finnish government in honor of his 50th birthday, which had been declared a national holiday. The symphony was originally...
and an extended version of the Karelia Suite
Karelia Suite
The Karelia Suite, Op. 11, is a collection of orchestral pieces composed by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius.The pieces in this suite are drawn from several independent works he wrote in 1893 for a patriotic historical pageant to be presented by students of the University of Helsinki in Viipuri,...
, but both have since been located.
Although Sibelius refused to discuss the matter with journalists, he did talk about the symphony privately with colleagues and friends. However, what he said was notoriously inconsistent. He told some that he had several movements written down but others were told that the symphony still only existed in his mind. Even into the 1950s, long after it was supposedly written (and supposedly destroyed), Sibelius said that he was still working on his Eighth Symphony.
For years it was believed that the only traces of the symphony that had survived were some marginalia in a copy of his Seventh Symphony
Symphony No. 7 (Sibelius)
The Symphony No. 7 in C major, Op. 105, was the final published symphony of Jean Sibelius. Completed in 1924, the Seventh is notable for being a one-movement symphony, in contrast to the standard symphonic formula of four movements...
, some sketches of the symphony found in the library of Helsinki University, and Surusoitto, Op. 111b, which Aino claimed was based on material from the symphony.
However, according to Tino Virtanen, the editor-in-chief of the collected edition of Sibelius, the archives donated by Sibelius's family to the University of Helsinki
University of Helsinki
The University of Helsinki is a university located in Helsinki, Finland since 1829, but was founded in the city of Turku in 1640 as The Royal Academy of Turku, at that time part of the Swedish Empire. It is the oldest and largest university in Finland with the widest range of disciplines available...
contain extensive drafts which are likely to relate to the missing symphony. Extracts from these were given an orchestral rehearsal in October 2011, and a reconstruction of all or part of the symphony may be possible from them.