One of the twentieth century's greatest composers, Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) virtually stopped writing music during the last thirty years of his life. Recasting his mysterious musical silence and his undeniably influential life against the backdrop of Finland's national awakening, "Sibelius" will be the definitive biography of this creative legend for many years to come. Glenda Dawn Goss begins her sweeping narrative in the Finland of Sibelius' youth, which remained under Russian control for the first five decades of his life. Focusing on previously unexamined parts of Sibelius' life, Goss explores the composer's formative experiences as a Russian subject and a member of the Swedish-speaking Finnish minority. She goes on to trace Sibelius' relationships with his creative contemporaries, with whom he worked to usher in a golden age of music and art that would endow Finns with a sense of pride in their heritage and encourage their hopes for the possibilities of nationhood. Skillfully evoking this artistic climate - in which Sibelius emerged as a leader - Goss creates a dazzling portrait of the painting, sculpture, literature, and music it inspired. To solve the deepest riddles of Sibelius' life, work, and enigmatic silence, Goss contends, we must understand the awakening in which he played so great a role.

About the Author
Glenda Dawn Goss is the former editor in chief of the Jean Sibelius Critical Edition and teaches at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki.

Reviews
"Until now, classical music listeners have not had an adequate context in which to place Sibelius's well-known and much-performed works. With Sibelius, Glenda Dawn Goss treats us to a panoramic view of the relevant Finnish background. This is idiosyncratic music from an idiosyncratic place, and Goss provides a generous overview of both. Unabashedly interpretive, this is a comprehensive and compelling look at a major composer and the culture he both influenced and drew upon. Essential reading for all Sibelians." (James Hepokoski, Yale University)"



Book Information
ISBN 9780226005478
Author Glenda Dawn Goss
Format Paperback
Page Count 576
Imprint University of Chicago Press
Publisher The University of Chicago Press
Weight(grams) 1049g
Dimensions(mm) 25mm * 18mm * 3mm