Almost One of Us

He really spent two summers here, Sibelius, the most famous Finnish composer whose Finlandia always manages to raise hair in my neck and lift my eyes far to the horizon. 

Near the Korppoo Mansion his family had rented a cottage to spend some summer weeks in the archipelago.

From mansion Sibelius and his familymembers found a kindred spirit, the lady of the house and together they then played what Sibelius had composed during the precious night.

And that is why every summer we remember him on our island, Korppoo and especially last summer when it is 150 years of his birth. Sibelius Week means classical music performed in the archipelago by musicians who know their task - to raise both the hair and the sight.

So last summer we attended a late evening concert at the Korppoo mansion. The main house painted rosy was lit by candles at the window shelves and the lovely rooms shimmering in the light of the sun set.

Finlandia was composed as a part of a larger work from the time of Russian opression in the end of the 19th century. That evening we listened to his early music from the time when he was still a student and could hear the tunes of old folk melodies. It felt amazing that a group of Australian musicians Flinders Quartet could find the way to play that I felt it sounded Finnish - and they managed to raise my hair, sight and tears. 

We resently visited the home of Sibelius, Ainola we learnt that he saw the tunes as colours, for example f-dour could be a special green. The tree tops of the summer night outside grew dark green while we sat and listened sitting in the same room he was said to have played himself.

http://www.sibelius.fi/english/ 
http://sibelius150.org/en/