Spring Song (Sibelius)
Spring Song | |
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Tone poem by Jean Sibelius | |
Native name | Vårsång |
Catalogue | Op. 16 |
Period | Late-Romantic |
Composed | 1894 (r. 1895, 1902) |
Duration | 8 minutes |
Premiere | |
Date | 21 June 1894 |
Location | Vaasa, Finland |
Conductor | Jean Sibelius |
Spring Song (Swedish title: Vårsång), Op. 16, is a single-movement tone poem for orchestra written in 1894 by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius.
The piece was initially composed as Improvisation for Orchestra, in the key of D major. Sibelius recast it in F major, and retitled the work in 1895, appending the subtitle "The Sadness of Spring" to that (unpublished) version, then made final, pre-publication revisions in 1902.
The piece contains an optimism that is relatively rare among Sibelius' works. It is known for its prominent use of bells at the end of the song.
Structure
The work is scored for 2 flutes (both doubling piccolo), 2 oboes, 2 clarinets (in B♭), 2 bassoons, 4 horns (in F), 3 trumpets (in F), 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, glocken, violins, violas, cellos and double basses. Spring Song takes about 8 minutes to play.