alternatively
CD: Crotchet

In scale Robert Von Bahr’s Sibelius Edition is a stunningly ambitious project. Who knows: perhaps when this is finished we may yet be offered an Apple I-Pod with the complete BIS Sibelius on one machine.
 
The first four discs of Volume 7 set out the songs in sweeping chronological order. Some like this approach; some don't. Its down-side is that a satisfying recital sequence is unlikely to be achieved. This turns out to be academic as the songs are of generally very high quality such that pleasurable discovery proceeds from track to track. Any monotony is also offset by the constant alternation of voices and accompanists. All the artists here must have felt the heavy responsibility of representing all of Sibelius for the foreseeable future and providing reference versions of every piece BIS could lay their hands on. The last disc is the shortest playing (short of 45 minutes) with preliminary and alternative versions of songs.
 
Even the earliest songs are rewarding including the unusual Medan nordanvinden for Juntunen, Groop and Ylönen's cello. We are just regaining our equilibrium when we encounter the Näcken for Groop, Kuusisto, Laakso and Gräsbeck and the wonderfully gritty Lasse Pöysti as reciter. Contrast this with the fragment of Hostkvaell - the Rydberg poem to which he returned later for the famous song. It's extremely impressive even if it stops mid-stride. Mixed in among the melodrama and quasi-scenas we get folksy ruralia such as Jag kysser dig lovingly despatched by Juntunen. Groop's way with the Den första kyssen has a passion-clouded and introverted quality that is powerful indeed. Våren flyktar hastigt treads the fine line between ingenue and passion in a mercurially perilous balance
 
Groop is joined by Derwinger for the liquidly flowing Sången om korsspindeln from King Christian II with its half embrace with Schubert's Erlkönig. Tennis at Trianon is sweet and predictive of Poulenc's settings from two decades later even if it also casts admiring looks towards exotic French grand opera. Groop and Gräbeck give us the world premiere of Jag ville, jag vore i Indialand from 1904. This is the India of threat and thuggee - dark waters indeed. In 1906 he set some German poems, presumably to please his publishers, Breitkopf and Härtel. His Lenzegesang is carefree and von Otter delivers a performance which is a miracle of the deeply-drawn breath. There’s never once a shade of strain. There’s something of Vienna and amorous operetta here.
 
Jubal is from 1908. It suggests the harp in the piano accompaniment and folksong in the vocal line. I was deeply impressed by Duke Magnus when I heard it first on the Decca collection. Its impact has not faded in the voice of Groop and the hands of Derwinger. Gabriel Suovanen and Gräsbeck take on the chilly and bluff second of two songs from Twelfth Night - Hey ho, the wind and the rain. Vårtagen (Spell of Springtide) has the piano evoking swirling dark waters while Suovanen stirs the emotions with a sort of fatalistic nobility. Von Otter and Forsberg deliver a pensive Arioso.
 
How wonderful to hear Luonnotar in this intimate close-quarters version for soprano and piano. Juntunen had already recorded the original with orchestra and continues the tradition here. The quick-flowing fingers of Folke Gräsbeck and well-judged restraint of Juntunen make this a version that could easily be viable in concert. Wait to hear this in the Merbeck or the Wigmore.
 
One of these days some scholar will find the first two songs which are missing from Six Songs op. 72. Meantime we have the surviving four including the Griegian The Echo Nymph. There are a lot of nymphs and dryads in Sibelius. The 1917 song Och finns det en tanke is inward, intoned or chanted as if to the singer's private self. There’s a touch of Duparc here too. Vitsippan (Wood Anemone) is sweet and restrained.
 
Suovanen returns in shuddering defiance for Kullervon Vallitus from Kullervo, as arranged by the composer in 1918.
 
By contrast Små flickorna from 1920 reeks of the heurigelieder of Vienna. Hymn to Thais is a setting from 1909 but was revised as late as 1948. It is a setting in English. When it rises to fleeting operatic majesty it reminds me of the Bantock Sappho Fragments or Isis's Lament. Bantock, a staunch and practical Sibelius champion, had died with his music in desuetude in 1946.
 
The last disc offers some toothsome delicacies including Juntunen's Serenad from 1887 in a preliminary version. Nice to hear Hynninen's baritone in Kyssens hopp which was sung by von Otter on CD1.
 
Suovanen's youthful helden tone is called on again for the German language version of Kullervo’s Lament. The raindrop iteration of the piano in the first version of Judeflickans sång does not detract from its brevity and singsong hymnal quality. On CD3 we heard the two songs from Twelfth Night with piano; here they are heard in the original version with guitar which was the way they were given on Söderström’s and Krause’s mid-1970s Decca set with the help of Carlos Bonell taking the place of Vladimir Ashkenazy.
 
Dolce far niente is far from unwelcome as a return in its 1910 preliminary version sung by the breathlessly vivacious Juntunen.
 
We end the five BIS discs with two songs arranged for soprano and mezzo with piano. It makes for a richly contrasted effect to have Juntunen and Groop side by side, voice by voice.
 
In common with the others, Volume 7 includes the usual dumpy booklet – the most substantial so far with all the sung words and translations duly printed. The notes are in English, Finnish, German, Japanese and French. The words of the songs are printed in their sung language and in English translation side by side. A typically attentive BIS touch is that the list of song contents gives the page number in the booklet for the poem being set. Very user-friendly.
 
There’s full annotation together with Andrew Barnett's compact eight page biography of the composer. His grand Sibelius biography was published in 2007 by Yale University Press. It's a hallmark of the series that the card box is oversized for the five discs, two booklets and series promotional leaflet. The contents seem to rattle around in there and the box takes up valuable space on your already crowded shelves.
 
Each disc is in its own plain white sleeve with one face of the sleeve carrying a polythene insert through which you can see which of the five discs you are handling.
 
Another landmark set in the complete Sibelius edition. Erudition and the delight of discovery jostle each other for attention.
 
Rob Barnett

see the Sibelius Edition themed review page for reviews of other releases

Reviews of individual Sibelius song discs from BIS
Orchestral songs
Songs Vol. 2
Songs Vol. 3

And other labels
Krause/Söderström (Decca)
Krause (Decca Eloquence)
Karnéus (Hyperion)
Isokoski (Ondine)
Wennberg (EMI Gemini)


The Sibelius edition
Just to take stock: already released as of March 2009 are:-
Volume 1 – Tone Poems
Volume 2 – Chamber Music I
Volume 3 – Voice and Orchestra
Volume 4 – Piano Music Vol.1
Volume 5 – Theatre Music
Volume 6 – Violin and Piano
 
The provisional release plan for the remaining volumes is as follows. The dates given have already slipped by about three months so take these as broadly indicative:-
 
Volume 8 Orchestral Works (incl. Violin Concerto) Leonidas Kavakos, Dong-Suk Kang, Lahti SO/Osmo Vänskä and Gothenburg SO/Neeme Järvi March 2009
 
Volume 9 Chamber Music II (piano quintet, brass music; cello music) Jaakko Kuusisto, Torleif Thedéen, Brass Partout and Lasse Pöysti June 2009
 
Volume 10 Choir a cappella Soloists, Jubilate Choir, Dominante Choir, YL Male Voice Choir and Orphei Drängar Sept. 2009
 
Volume 11 Piano Music II Folke Gräsbeck Dec. 2009
 
Volume 12 Symphonies (including fragments) Lahti SO / Osmo Vänskä March 2010
 
Volume 13 Miscellaneous (incl. organ works and the Masonic Music) Various March 2010
 
Detailed Tracklisting
CD 1
 
Serenad, JS 167 (1887–88) (Fennica Gehrman Oy Ab) 2'48
Text: Johan Ludvig Runeberg (see p. 152)
Anne Sofie von Otter mezzo-soprano · Bengt Forsberg piano
 
Medan nordanvinden gnyr (1888) (Manuscript HUL 1283) 1'11
[While the NorthWind Roars] · Text: anon. (p. 152) · World premiere recording
Helena Juntunen soprano · Monica Groop mezzo-soprano · Marko Ylönen cello
 
Näcken, JS 138 (1888) (Manuscript/ Breitkopf & Härtel) 3'19
[TheWatersprite] · Text: GunnarWennerberg (p. 153)
Dramatic ‘runic sorcery’ for soprano, recitation, violin, cello and piano
Monica Groop mezzo-soprano · Lasse Pöysti recitation
Jaakko Kuusisto violin · Joel Laakso cello · Folke Gräsbeck piano
 
Då världar ännu skapade ej voro, JS 56 (1888, fragment) (M/s / Breitkopf & Härtel) 2'23
[WhenWorlds Still UncreatedWere] · Text: anon. (p. 154) · World premiere recording
Helena Juntunen soprano · Marko Ylönen cello · Folke Gräsbeck piano
 
En visa, JS 71 (1888) (Breitkopf & Härtel) 1'25
[A Song] · Text: Baeckman (p. 155)
Anne Sofie von Otter mezzo-soprano · Bengt Forsberg piano
 
Solen slog himlen röd…(1888, fragment) (Manuscript HUL 1179) 1'34
[The Sun Reddened the Sky…] · Text: Ernst Josephson (p. 155) · World premiere recording
Monica Groop mezzo-soprano · Folke Gräsbeck piano
 
Orgier, JS 143 (1888–89) (Breitkopf & Härtel) 2'17
[Orgies] · Text: Lars Stenbäck (p. 155)
Dan Karlström tenor · Folke Gräsbeck piano
 
Skogsrået, JS 171 (1888–89) (Breitkopf & Härtel) 6'40
[TheWood-Nymph] · Text: Viktor Rydberg (p. 156)
Anne Sofie von Otter mezzo-soprano · Bengt Forsberg piano
 
Höstkväll (1888–89, fragment) (Manuscript HUL 1180) 2'22
[Autumn Evening] · Text: Viktor Rydberg (p. 181) · World premiere recording
Monica Groop mezzo-soprano · Folke Gräsbeck piano
 
Flickan gick en vintermorgon (1890–92, fragment) (Manuscript HUL 1186) 0'45
[TheMaidenWent OneWinterMorning]
Text: J. L. Runeberg (p. 205) · World premiere recording
Monica Groop mezzo-soprano · Folke Gräsbeck piano
 
Jag kysser dig [och ledsnar] ej (1889–91) (Manuscript HUL 1183) 0'54
[I Kiss You andWeary Not] · Text: J. L. Runeberg (p. 159) · World premiere recording
Helena Juntunen soprano · Folke Gräsbeck piano
 
Löjet var utan hem (1890–91) (Manuscript HUL 1286/2) 2'25
[WitWasWithout a Home] · Text: J. L. Runeberg (p. 159) · World premiere recording
Helena Juntunen soprano · Folke Gräsbeck piano
 
Likhet, JS 120 (1890) (Breitkopf & Härtel) 1'40
[Alikeness] · Text: J. L. Runeberg (p. 160)
Anne Sofie von Otter mezzo-soprano · Bengt Forsberg piano
 
Den första kyssen, JS 57 (1891–92) (M/s / Breitkopf & Härtel) 2'08
[The First Kiss] · Text: J. L. Runeberg (p. 178)
Monica Groop mezzo-soprano · Folke Gräsbeck piano
 
Tule, tule kultani (folk-song arrangement), JS 211 (1892) (M/s / Breitkopf & Härtel) 1'14
[Come, Come, My Sweetheart] · Text: traditional (p. 160)
Gabriel Suovanen baritone · Folke Gräsbeck piano
 
Seven Runeberg Songs, Op. 13 (Breitkopf & Härtel) 20'33
Texts: J. L. Runeberg (p. 161–65)
 
1. Under strandens granar [Under the Fir-Trees] (1892) 5'24
2. Kyssens hopp [The Kiss’s Hope] (1892) 2'10
3. Hjärtats morgon [The Heart’s Morning] (1890) 2'27
4. Våren flyktar hastigt [Spring Flies Speedily] (1891) 1'33
5. Drömmen [The Dream] (1891) 1'43
6. Till Frigga [To Frigga] (1892) 3'59
7. Jägargossen [The Young Huntsman] (1891) 2'44
Anne Sofie von Otter mezzo-soprano · Bengt Forsberg piano
 
CD 2
 
Seven Songs, Op. 17 (Breitkopf & Härtel) 13'29
1. Se’n har jag ej frågat mera (1890–92) 2'14
[Since Then I Have Questioned No Further]
Text: J. L. Runeberg (p. 165)
2. Sov in! [Go to Sleep!] (1891–92/1894) 1'41
Text: Karl August Tavaststjerna (p. 166)
3. Fågellek [Play of the Birds] (1891) 1'32
Text: K. A. Tavaststjerna (p. 166)
4. Vilse [Astray] (1898, rev. 1902) 0'52
Text: K. A. Tavaststjerna (p. 167)
5. En slända [A Dragonfly] (1904) 4'22
Text: Oscar Levertin (p. 168)
6. Illalle [To Evening] (1898) 1'15
Text: August Valdemar Forsman [Koskimies] (p. 168)
7. Lastu lainehilla [Driftwood] (1902) 1'06
Text: Ilmari Calamnius (p. 169)
Anne Sofie von Otter mezzo-soprano · Bengt Forsberg piano
 
Koskenlaskijan morsiamet, Op. 33 (1897) (Breitkopf & Härtel) 11'31
[The Rapids-Rider’s Brides] · Text: A. Oksanen (p. 169)
Arrangement for voice and piano by the composer · World premiere recording
Gabriel Suovanen baritone · Folke Gräsbeck piano
 
Sången om korsspindeln, Op. 27 No. 4 (1898) (Breitkopf & Härtel) 3'31
[Fool’s Song of the Spider] from the music to Adolf Paul’s play Kung Kristian II (King Christian II) (p. 172)
Arrangement for voice and piano by the composer
Monica Groop mezzo-soprano · Love Derwinger piano
 
Segelfahrt, JS 166 (1899) (Breitkopf & Härtel) 1'30
[Sailing] · Text: Johannes Öhquist (p. 173)
Dan Karlström tenor · Folke Gräsbeck piano
 
Souda, souda, sinisorsa, JS 180 (1899) (Fennica Gehrman Oy Ab) 1'10
[Swim, Duck, Swim] · Text: A. V. Forsman [Koskimies] (p. 173)
Anne Sofie von Otter mezzo-soprano · Bengt Forsberg piano
 
Andantino in E flat minor, JS 42 (1900) (Breitkopf & Härtel) 2'09
[Säv, säv, susa / Sigh, Sigh, Sedges] · [Text: Gustaf Fröding (p. 176)]
Helena Juntunen soprano · Folke Gräsbeck piano
 
Six Songs, Op. 36 (Breitkopf & Härtel) 11'56
1. Svarta rosor [Black Roses] (1899) 1'56
Text: Ernst Josephson (p. 174)
2. Men min fågel märks dock icke [But My Bird is Long in Homing] (1899) 2'23
Text: J. L. Runeberg (p. 175)
3. Bollspelet vid Trianon [Tennis at Trianon] (1899) 1'20
Text: Gustaf Fröding (p. 175)
4. Säv, säv, susa [Sigh, Sigh, Sedges] (1900) 2'33
Text: Gustaf Fröding (p. 176)
5. Marssnön [The March Snow] (1900) 1'18
Text: Josef JuliusWecksell (p. 177)
6. Demanten på marssnön [The Diamond on the March Snow] (1900) 1'57
Text: J. J.Wecksell (p. 177)
Anne Sofie von Otter mezzo-soprano · Bengt Forsberg piano
 
Five Songs, Op. 37 (Breitkopf & Härtel) 11'26
1. Den första kyssen [The First Kiss] (1900) 1'52
Text: J. L. Runeberg (p. 178)
2. Lasse liten [Little Lasse] (1902) 1'59
Text: Zachris Topelius (p. 178)
3. Soluppgång [Sunrise] (1902) 2'24
Text: Tor Hedberg (p. 179)
4. Var det en dröm? [Was it a Dream?] (1902) 1'58
Text: J. J.Wecksell (p. 179)
5. Flickan kom ifrån sin älsklings möte [The Tryst] (1901) 2'50
Text: J. L. Runeberg (p. 180)
Anne Sofie von Otter mezzo-soprano · Bengt Forsberg piano
 
Jag ville, jag vore i Indialand (1903–04) (Manuscript HUL 1124 & 1189) 2'46
[I wish I were in India] · Text: Gustaf Fröding (p. 185) · World premiere recording
Monica Groop mezzo-soprano · Folke Gräsbeck piano
 
Five Songs, Op. 38 (Breitkopf & Härtel) 19'20
1. Höstkväll [Autumn Evening] (1903) 4'44
Text: Viktor Rydberg (p. 181)
2. På verandan vid havet [On a Balcony by the Sea] (1903) 3'36
Text: Viktor Rydberg (p. 182)
3. I natten [In the Night] (1903) 3'56
Text: Viktor Rydberg (p. 183)
4. Harpolekaren och hans son [The Harper and his Son] (1904) 3'41
Text: Viktor Rydberg (p. 183)
5. Jag ville, jag vore i Indialand [I wish I were in India] (1904) 2'58
Text: Gustaf Fröding (p. 185)
Helena Juntunen soprano · Folke Gräsbeck piano
 
Les trois soeurs aveugles, JS 147 No. 6 [Op. 46 No. 4] (1905) (Lienau) 3'44
[The Three Blind Sisters] from the music to Maurice Mæterlinck’s play Pelléas et Mélisande (p. 186)
Arrangement for voice and piano by the composer
Anne Sofie von Otter mezzo-soprano · Bengt Forsberg piano
 
Six Songs, Op. 50 (1906) (Lienau) 14'13
1. Lenzgesang [Spring Song] 2'23
Text: Arthur Fitger (p. 187)
2. Sehnsucht [Longing] 1'53
Text: Emil RudolfWeiß (p. 188)
3. Im Feld ein Mädchen singt [In the Field a Maid Sings] 3'00
Text: Margarete Susman (p. 189)
4. Aus banger Brust [From Anxious Heart] 2'17
Text: Richard Dehmel (p. 189)
5. Die stille Stadt [The Silent City] 2'39
Text: Richard Dehmel (p. 190)
6. Rosenlied [Song of the Roses] 1'33
Text: Anna Ritter (p. 190)
Anne Sofie von Otter mezzo-soprano · Bengt Forsberg piano
 
Erloschen, JS 73 (1906) (Breitkopf & Härtel) 2'46
[Extinguished] · Text: Georg Busse-Palma (p. 191)
Helena Juntunen soprano · Folke Gräsbeck piano
 
Two Songs, Op. 35 (1908) (Breitkopf & Härtel) 8'50
1. Jubal 4'28
Text: Ernst Josephson (p. 192)
Helena Juntunen soprano · Folke Gräsbeck piano
2. Teodora 4'16
Text: Bertel Gripenberg (p. 193)
Gabriel Suovanen baritone · Folke Gräsbeck piano
 
Vänskapens blomma, JS 215 (1909) (Breitkopf & Härtel) 2'54
[The Flower of Friendship] · Text: Ernst Josephson (p. 198)
Monica Groop mezzo-soprano · Folke Gräsbeck piano
 
Eight Songs, Op. 57 (1909) (Lienau) 21'48
Texts: Ernst Josephson (p. 194–98)
1. Älven och snigeln [The River and the Snail] 2'46
2. En blomma stod vid vägen [A Flower Stood by the Wayside] 2'06
3. Kvarnhjulet [The Mill-wheel] 2'51
4. Maj [May] 2'35
5. Jag är ett träd [I am a Tree] 2'46
6. Hertig Magnus [Duke Magnus] 3'17
7. Vänskapens blomma [The Flower of Friendship] 2'36
8. Näcken [TheWatersprite] 2'10
Monica Groop mezzo-soprano · Love Derwinger piano
 
Two Songs from ‘Twelfth Night’, Op. 60 (1909) (Breitkopf & Härtel) 4'22
Texts:William Shakespeare; Swedish version by Carl August Hagberg (p. 199)
Arrangements for voice and piano by the composer
1. Kom nu hit, död! [Come Away, Death!] 3'17
2. Hållilå, uti storm och i regn [Hey, ho, the Wind and the Rain] 0'59
Gabriel Suovanen baritone · Folke Gräsbeck piano
 
Eight Songs, Op. 61 (1910) (Breitkopf & Härtel) 25'23
1. Långsamt som kvällskyn [Slowly as the Evening Sky] 2'11
Text: K. A. Tavaststjerna (p. 200)
2. Vattenplask [LappingWaters] 3'31
Text: Viktor Rydberg (p. 201)
3. När jag drömmer [When I Dream] 3'04
Text: K. A. Tavaststjerna (p. 201)
4. Romeo 1'42
Text: K. A. Tavaststjerna (p. 202)
5. Romans [Romance] 3'43
Text: K. A. Tavaststjerna (p. 203)
6. Dolce far niente 1'40
Text: K. A. Tavaststjerna (p. 204)
7. Fåfäng önskan [IdleWishes] 3'12
Text: J. L. Runeberg (p. 204)
8. Vårtagen [The Spell of Springtide] 1'54
Text: Bertel Gripenberg (p. 205)
Gabriel Suovanen baritone · Folke Gräsbeck piano
 
CD 3
 
Arioso, Op. 3 (1911) (Breitkopf & Härtel) 4'06
Text: J. L. Runeberg (p. 205)
Anne Sofie von Otter mezzo-soprano · Bengt Forsberg piano
 
Five Christmas Songs, Op. 1 (Fennica Gehrman Oy Ab) 12'53
1. Nu står jul vid snöig port [Now Christmas Stands at the Snowy Gate] (1913) 1'45
Text: Zachris Topelius (p. 206)
2. Nu så kommer julen [Now is Christmas Coming] (1913) 2'16
Text: Zachris Topelius (p. 207)
3. Det mörknar ute [Outside it is Growing Dark] (1897) 2'46
Text: Zachris Topelius (p. 207)
4. Giv mig ej glans, ej guld, ej prakt (1909) 3'43
[Give me no Splendour, Gold or Pomp]
Text: Zachris Topelius (p. 208)
5. On hanget korkeat, nietokset [High are the Snowdrifts] (1901) 2'06
Text:Wilkku Joukahainen (p. 209)
Monica Groop mezzo-soprano · Love Derwinger piano
 
Luonnotar, Op. 70 (1913) (Breitkopf & Härtel) 8'48
Text: based on Kalevala I : 111–242 (p. 210)
Arrangement for voice and piano by the composer · World premiere recording
Helena Juntunen soprano · Folke Gräsbeck piano
 
From Six Songs, Op. 72 (Breitkopf & Härtel) 8'39
(Songs Nos 1 & 2 are lost)
3. Kyssen [The Kiss] (1915) 2'22
Text: Viktor Rydberg (p. 211)
4. Kaiutar [The Echo Nymph] (1915) 3'10
Text: Larin Kyösti (p. 212)
5. DerWanderer und der Bach [TheWanderer and the Brook] (1915) 0'47
Text: Martin Greif (p. 213)
6. Hundra vägar [A HundredWays] (1907) 2'03
Text: J. L. Runeberg (p. 213)
Monica Groop mezzo-soprano · Love Derwinger piano
 
Tanken, JS 192 (1915) (Breitkopf & Härtel) 1'29
[The Thought] · Text: J. L. Runeberg (p. 214)
Anne Sofie von Otter & Monica Groop mezzo-sopranos · Bengt Forsberg piano
 
Six Songs, Op. 86 (Breitkopf & Härtel) 11'42
1. Vårförnimmelser [The Coming of Spring] (1917) 1'12
Text: K. A. Tavaststjerna (p. 214)
2. Längtan heter min arvedel [Longing is my Heritage] (1917) 3'11
Text: Erik Axel Karlfeldt (p. 215)
3. Dold förening [Hidden Union] (1917) 0'53
Text: Carl Snoilsky (p. 216)
4. Och finns det en tanke [And Is There a Thought] (1917) 2'15
Text: K. A. Tavaststjerna (p. 216)
5. Sångarlön [The Singer’s Reward] (1917) 1'45
Text: Carl Snoilsky (p. 217)
6. I systrar, I bröder, I älskande par! [Ye Sisters, Ye Brothers] (1918) 2'01
Text: Mikael Lybeck (p. 217)
Monica Groop mezzo-soprano · Love Derwinger piano
 
Six Songs, Op. 88 (1917) (Breitkopf & Härtel) 7'54
1. Blåsippan [The Blue Anemone] 0'41
Text: Frans Michael Franzén (p. 218)
2. De bägge rosorna [The Two Roses] 1'12
Text: F. M. Franzén (p. 218)
3. Vitsippan [TheWood Anemone] 1'14
Text: F. M. Franzén (p. 219)
4. Sippan [The Anemone] 0'55
Text: J. L. Runeberg (p. 219)
 
CD 4
 
5. Törnet [The Thorn] 2'04
Text: J. L. Runeberg (p. 219)
6. Blommans öde [The Flower’s Destiny] 1'21
Text: J. L. Runeberg (p. 220)
Anne Sofie von Otter mezzo-soprano · Bengt Forsberg piano
 
Six Runeberg Songs, Op. 90 (1917) (Fennica Gehrman Oy Ab) 13'43
Texts: J. L. Runeberg (p. 220–24)
1. Norden [The North] 2'04
2. Hennes budskap [Her Message] 1'32
3. Morgonen [The Morning] 2'24
4. Fågelfängarn [The Bird Catcher] 1'28
5. Sommarnatten [Summer Night] 2'46
6. Vem styrde hit din väg? [Who Brought You Hither?] 3'02
Anne Sofie von Otter mezzo-soprano · Bengt Forsberg piano
 
Kullervon valitus, from Op. 7 (1892, arr. 1917–18) (Breitkopf & Härtel) 1'49
[Kullervo’s Lament] · Text: Kalevala XXXV: 271–86 (p. 225)
Arrangement for voice and piano by the composer
Gabriel Suovanen baritone · Folke Gräsbeck piano
 
Mummon syntymäpäivänä, JS136 (1919) (Breitkopf & Härtel) 1'41
[Birthday Song to Grandmother] · Text: anon. (p. 225)
Gabriel Suovanen baritone · Folke Gräsbeck piano
 
Autrefois, Scène pastorale, Op. 96b (1919–20) (Breitkopf & Härtel) 5'23
Text: Hjalmar Procopé (p. 226) · World premiere recording
Arrangement for two voices and piano by the composer
Helena Juntunen soprano · Monica Groop mezzo-soprano · Folke Gräsbeck piano
 
Små flickorna, JS 174 (1920) (Breitkopf & Härtel) 3'09
[Young Girls] · Text: Hjalmar Procopé (p. 226)
Monica Groop mezzo-soprano · Love Derwinger piano
 
Narciss, JS 140 (1925) (Fennica Gehrman Oy Ab) 1'45
[Narcissus] · Text: Bertel Gripenberg (p. 228)
Anne Sofie von Otter mezzo-soprano · Bengt Forsberg piano
 
Siltavahti, JS 170b (1928) (Manuscript copy / Private collection) 2'24
[The Guardian of the Bridge] · Text:Wäinö Sola (p. 228)
Dan Karlström tenor · Folke Gräsbeck piano
 
Solitude, Op. 51 No. 2 [JS 48 No. 2b] (Breitkopf & Härtel)) 2'53
[Den judiska flickans sång / The Jewish Girl’s Song] (1906, rev. 1939)
from the music to Hjalmar Procopé’s play Belsazars gästabud (Belshazzar’s Feast) (p. 229)
Arrangement for voice and piano by the composer
Anne Sofie von Otter mezzo-soprano · Bengt Forsberg piano
 
Hymn to Thaïs, the Unforgettable, JS 97 (Fennica Gehrman Oy Ab) 1'53
(1909, rev. 1948) · Text: Arthur H. Borgström (p. 230)
Monica Groop mezzo-soprano · Love Derwinger piano
 
CD 5
 
Appendix: Preliminary/Alternative Versions
 
Serenad, JS 167 (preliminary version · 1887) (Manuscript HUL 1169) 2'53
Text: J. L. Runeberg (see p. 152) · World premiere recording
Helena Juntunen soprano · Folke Gräsbeck piano
 
From Seven Runeberg Songs, Op. 13 (preliminary versions)
Texts: J. L. Runeberg (p. 162–63) · World premiere recordingS
2. Kyssens hopp [The Kiss’s Hope] (1892) (Manuscript HUL 1077) 2'21
3. Hjärtats morgon [The Heart’s Morning] (1890) (Manuscript HUL 1079 & 1080) 2'25
5. Drömmen [The Dream] (1891) (Manuscript HUL 1083) 2'02
Jorma Hynninen baritone · Folke Gräsbeck piano
 
KullervosWehruf, from Op. 7 (first version · 1892, rev. 1892–93) (Breitkopf & Härtel) 2'12
[Kullervo’s Lament] · WORLD PREMIÈRE RECORDING
Text: Kalevala XXXV: 271–86; German version by Franz Anton von Schiefner (p. 231)
Arrangement for voice and piano by the composer
Gabriel Suovanen baritone · Folke Gräsbeck piano
 
From Seven Songs, Op. 17 (early draft copies) · World premiere recordingS
1. Se’n har jag ej frågat mera (1890–92) (Manuscript HUL 1400/5) 2'37
[Since Then I Have Questioned No Further] · [Text: J. L. Runeberg (p. 165)]
Folke Gräsbeck piano
 
6. Illalle [To Evening] (1898) (Manuscript HUL 1094) 1'50
Text: A. V. Forsman [Koskimies] (p. 168)
Gabriel Suovanen baritone
 
Soluppgång, JS 87 (preliminary version · 1902) (Breitkopf & Härtel) 2'14
[Sunrise] · Text: Tor Hedberg (p. 179)
Helena Juntunen soprano · Folke Gräsbeck piano
 
Judeflickans sång, JS 48 No. 2b [Op. 51 No. 2] (Breitkopf & Härtel) 2'51
[The Jewish Girl’s Song] (first version · 1906, rev. c. 1907) · World premiere recording
from the music to Hjalmar Procopé’s play Belsazars gästabud (Belshazzar’s Feast) (p. 229)
Arrangement for voice and piano by the composer
Monica Groop mezzo-soprano · Folke Gräsbeck piano
 
Hundra vägar, Op. 72 No. 6 (preliminary version · 1907) (Manuscript HUL 1148) 2'13
[A HundredWays] · Text: J. L. Runeberg (p. 213) · World premiere recording
Helena Juntunen soprano · Folke Gräsbeck piano
 
Teodora, Op. 35 No. 2 (preliminary version · 1908) (Manuscript HUL 1097) 4'39
Text: Bertel Gripenberg (p. 193) · World premiere recording
Gabriel Suovanen baritone · Folke Gräsbeck piano
 
Hymn to Thaïs, the Unforgettable, JS 97 (Fennica Gehrman Oy Ab) 2'06
(first version · 1909) · Text: Arthur Borgström (p. 230) · World premiere recording
Helena Juntunen soprano · Folke Gräsbeck piano
 
Two Songs from ‘Twelfth Night’, Op. 60 (1909) (Breitkopf & Härtel) 5'24
Texts:William Shakespeare; Swedish version by Carl August Hagberg (p. 199–200)
Original versions for voice and guitar
1. Kom nu hit, död! [Come Away, Death!] 3'12
2. Hållilå, uti storm och i regn [Hey, ho, the Wind and the Rain] 2'07
Gabriel Suovanen baritone · Juuso Nieminen guitar
 
Dolce far niente, Op. 61 No. 6 (preliminary version · 1910) (Manuscript HUL 1144) 1'43
Text: K. A. Tavaststjerna (p. 204) · World premiere recording
Helena Juntunen soprano · Folke Gräsbeck piano
 
On hanget korkeat, nietokset, Op. 1 No. 5 (Manuscript HUL 1075 / Fennica Gehrman Oy Ab) 2'07
[High are the Snowdrifts] · Text:Wilkku Joukahainen (p. 209) · World premiere recording
Arrangement for two voices and piano by the composer (1901, rev. 1903–05)
Helena Juntunen soprano · Monica Groop mezzo-soprano · Folke Gräsbeck piano
 
Pastorale, extract from ‘Autrefois’, Op. 96b (1919–20) (M/s Sibelius Museum, Turku) 2'45
Text: Hjalmar Procopé (p. 226) · World premiere recording
Arrangement for two voices and piano by the composer
Helena Juntunen soprano · Monica Groop mezzo-soprano · Folke Gräsbeck piano
TT: 5h 56m 11s
 
In 1982 the Sibelius family donated a major collection of manuscripts to Helsinki University Library (HUL, now the National Library of Finland). Many of these works are now known by JS numbers, referring to the alphabetical list of Jean Sibelius’s compositions without opus number used in Fabian Dahlström’s Jean Sibelius: Thematisch-bibliographisches Verzeichnis seinerWerke (Breitkopf & Härtel 2003). A significant number of these compositions will ultimately be published by Breitkopf & Härtel. Additional surviving pieces and fragments not included in the JS list are located principally in the collection of the National Library of Finland and are identified here by their numbers in the HUL collection, as catalogued by Kari Kilpeläinen in The Jean Sibelius Musical Manuscripts at Helsinki University Library – A Complete Catalogue (Breitkopf & Härtel, 1991).

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