vinyl LP front cover
Cover, Artwork: Akseli Gallen-Kallela
photo of album cover by Styrous®
Today is the birthday of the Finnish composer of the late Romantic and early-modern periods, Jean Sibelius. He was born in the Grand Duchy of Finland, an autonomous part of the Russian Empire, on December 8, 1865.
His most famous works are the very dramatic Finlandia, the frothy and delightful Valse triste, his Violin Concerto, etc. But my favorite by him is the choral work, Kalervo (Tulen Synty / The Origin of Fire); in particular the finale, Kullervo's Death. The work is scored for soprano, baritone, male chorus and orchestra; in this case, the Helsinki University Men's Choir.
Kullervo's Death begins almost imperceptibly quiet; then the orchestra slowly builds with lots of french horns, of course. It's a thrilling opus!
Kullervo is an ill-fated character in the Kalevala, the 19th-century work of Finnish epic poetry compiled by Elias Lönnrot.
A future blog entry will contain more info about this.
The text of Kullervo is as follows:
Truly fortunate man, never youthfully strayed from his own land, forsaking joys of his home, far from graves of the heroes. How can a man, mortal man, complain of the order of heaven? But my sad, tired, weary heart now wants to sigh for a while. As I remember the night, when the dear homeland faded away, my heart is still longing, my yearning eyes brimming with tears. Never will vanish, never, Northland from memory, where on hillsides I heard how Sampo and kantele sang. There men were toiling and singing those songs of Väinö they sang; Boys wrestled bears in forest's gloom. Clear were the wintry days, beautiful to behold, Northern lights in the heavens blazing, glorious to behold. Oh, the midsummer time, days without end, when sun fails to cease shining over water and land! Once more, Oh Fate, do take me there, I'd known all lakes and islands and bays, I'd know all heavenly stars and the moon. There's my heart and there's my childhood memories, all my friends, and most precious of all, my darling, every thing that I love. Let those who choose Alps to praise, let them rejoice in their praises. More precious by far is the land of my birth, my beautiful home.Truly in the Romantic mood, I would say. There is some very fascinating information of incest, murder and other mischief in the links below. The boxed set came with a two page booklet that had a wealth of information about the work and the artists involved.
A newer version of Kalervo was recorded in 1997 by Sir Colin Davis with soloists Hillevi Martinpelto and Karl-Magnus Fredriksson and the London Symphony Orchestra. It has received very favorable reviews.
The set has two vinyl LPs, the first three sides are taken up by the Kalervo . . .
. . . the fourth side has four waltz pieces, the first of which is the aforementioned, Valse triste, that are incidental music for the ballet, Kuolema (Death), a drama by the Finnish writer Arvid Järnefelt.
Tracklist:
Side 1:
Side 1:
Kullervo Symphony, Op. 7
A1 - 1st Movement: Introduction (Allegro Moderato) - 13:45
A2 - 2nd Movement: Kullervo's Youth (Grave) - 13:55
A1 - 1st Movement: Introduction (Allegro Moderato) - 13:45
A2 - 2nd Movement: Kullervo's Youth (Grave) - 13:55
Side 2:
3rd Movement: Kullervo And His Sister (Allegro Vivace) - 24:26
Side 3:
Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Southampton Guildhall
Manufactured By – Capitol Records, Inc.
Pressed By – Capitol Records Pressing Plant, Scranton
Copyright © – Paavo Berglund
Copyright © – Robert Layton
Credits:
Baritone Vocals – Usko Viitanen
Bass Clarinet – Anthony Godwin (2)
Bassoon – Christopher Gale (2)
Bassoon [Double Bassoon] – David Johnson (42)
Bassoon [Principal] – Eric Butt
Cello – Alison Myers, Andrew Clunies-Ross, Christopher Magnus, Douglas Morris (3), Gillian Kaye, Helen Reynolds, John Hursey, Stefan Revesz, Walter Hanesworth
Cello [Principal] – Joseph Koos
Choir – Helsinki University Men's Choir*
Chorus Master – Ensti Pohjola
Clarinet – Anthony Godwin (2), Patrick Dingle
Clarinet [Principal] – Raymond Carpenter
Composed By – Jean Sibelius
Conductor – Paavo Berglund
Cor Anglais [Principal] – Jeffrey Brown (2)
Cover, Artwork – Akseli Gallen-Kallela
Double Bass – Barry Glynn, Bernadette Hume, Graham Beazley, Hubert Downs, Keith Wood (4), Laurence Gray, Lyndon Thomas (2)
Double Bass [Principal] – George Folprecht
Engineer [Balance Engineer] – Stuart Eltham
Flute – Peter Baird (2)
Flute [Principal] – Laurence Beers
Harp – Morfan Edwards
Horns – Donald Froud, Ian Thompson (13), Joseph Currie, Malcolm Pfaff, Peter Hastings (2)
Horns [Principal] – Timothy Brown (2)
Liner Notes – Paavo Berglund, Robert Layton
Liner Notes [English Translation] – W. F. Kirby
Mezzo-soprano Vocals – Raili Kostia
Oboe – Peter Walden
Oboe [Principal] – John Williams (18)
Orchestra – Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Percussion – Michael Froud
Percussion [Principal] – Jacqueline Gush
Photography By [Booklet] – Alexandra Chappell, Bournemouth*
Piccolo Flute – Kenneth Smith (6)
Piccolo Flute [Principal] – John Braddock (2)
Producer [Recording Producer] – Brian Culverhouse
Soprano Clarinet [E♭ Clarinet] – Patrick Dingle
Timpani [Principal] – Andrew Smith (30)
Trombone – Alwyn Green, Evan Watkin, Malcolm Warne-Holland
Trombone [Principal] – Denis Wise
Trumpet – Barrington Latchem, Brian Foreshaw, Graham Coote, William Kitchen (3)
Trumpet [Principal] – Rodney Senior
Tuba [Principal] – Alan Sinclair (3)
Viola – Alan Dancey, Cedric Morgan, Daphne Maxwell, Eric Joseph (2), Ian Pillow, Richard Willetts, Sally Brown (4), Sidney Todd, William Hallett, William Huddart
Viola [Principal] – Mary Samuel
Violin [First Violins, Leader, Principal] – Brendan O'Brien (2)
Violin [First Violins, Sub-Leader, Principal] – Donald Macdonald (4)
Violin [First Violins] – Alan Cutter, Alfred Jupp, Aoife Froud, Caroline Berthoud, Charles Thorgilson, David Shean, Jeffrey Plenty, Josephine Barnes, Judith Rodmell, Roger Foxwell, Sheila Whitmore, Sonya Dancey*, Susan Smith (6), Valentine Abaza
Violin [Second Violins, Principal] – Colin Verrall
Violin [Second Violins] – Charles Barnes, Edwin Paling, George Harrington-Kidd, Ian Harvey (4), John Butterworth (3), John Fulker, Julia Brocklehurst, Leslie Musk, Marilyn Downs, Molly Kirby, Peter Witham, Robert Colman (2), Timothy Colman
Notes:
Kullervo Symphony, Op. 7 - symphonic poem for soloists, chorus and orchestra
Cover: Detail from "Kullervo goes to Battle" by Akseli Gallen-Kallela. Published by kind permission of the Students' Union of the University of Helsinki.
Recorded in the Guildhall, Southampton.
Auto-coupled.
8-page booklet includes liner notes, photographs and lyrics in Finnish and English.
(Booklet)
℗ 1971
The photographs of Sibelius, his associations, etc., are published by courtesy of The Otava Publishing Co., Uudenmaankatu 8-12, Helsinki, Finland. An English version of the book from which the photographs were taken, with a text by Robert Layton, has been published by Thames & Hudson.
The English translation by W. F. Kirby of Runo XXXV and Runo XXXVI of the Finnish national epic poem "Kalevala" is reproduced by kind permission of J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd.
(Center labels, back cover) Manufactured by Capitol Records, Inc., a subsidiary of Capitol Industries, Inc., U.S.A.
(Booklet, back cover) Printed in U.S.A.
Durations:
Side 1: 27:40
Side 2: 24:26
Side 3: 18:45
Side 4: 20:38
Side 3:
C1 - 4th Movement: Kullervo Goes To Battle (A La Marcia) - 8:44
C2 - 5th Movement: Kullervo's Death (Andante) - 9:56
C2 - 5th Movement: Kullervo's Death (Andante) - 9:56
Side 4:
D1 - Kuolema, Op. 44 - Scene With Cranes - 5:25
Swanwhite - Incidental Music
D2 - 2nd Movement: The Harp
Harp – Morfan Edwards - 4:20
D3 - 3rd Movement: The Maidens With The Roses - 2:52
D4 - 4th Movement: Listen, The Robin Sings - 4:10
D5 - 6th Movement: Swanwhite And The Prince - 3:31
Swanwhite - Incidental Music
D2 - 2nd Movement: The Harp
Harp – Morfan Edwards - 4:20
D3 - 3rd Movement: The Maidens With The Roses - 2:52
D4 - 4th Movement: Listen, The Robin Sings - 4:10
D5 - 6th Movement: Swanwhite And The Prince - 3:31
Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Southampton Guildhall
Manufactured By – Capitol Records, Inc.
Pressed By – Capitol Records Pressing Plant, Scranton
Copyright © – Paavo Berglund
Copyright © – Robert Layton
Credits:
Baritone Vocals – Usko Viitanen
Bass Clarinet – Anthony Godwin (2)
Bassoon – Christopher Gale (2)
Bassoon [Double Bassoon] – David Johnson (42)
Bassoon [Principal] – Eric Butt
Cello – Alison Myers, Andrew Clunies-Ross, Christopher Magnus, Douglas Morris (3), Gillian Kaye, Helen Reynolds, John Hursey, Stefan Revesz, Walter Hanesworth
Cello [Principal] – Joseph Koos
Choir – Helsinki University Men's Choir*
Chorus Master – Ensti Pohjola
Clarinet – Anthony Godwin (2), Patrick Dingle
Clarinet [Principal] – Raymond Carpenter
Composed By – Jean Sibelius
Conductor – Paavo Berglund
Cor Anglais [Principal] – Jeffrey Brown (2)
Cover, Artwork – Akseli Gallen-Kallela
Double Bass – Barry Glynn, Bernadette Hume, Graham Beazley, Hubert Downs, Keith Wood (4), Laurence Gray, Lyndon Thomas (2)
Double Bass [Principal] – George Folprecht
Engineer [Balance Engineer] – Stuart Eltham
Flute – Peter Baird (2)
Flute [Principal] – Laurence Beers
Harp – Morfan Edwards
Horns – Donald Froud, Ian Thompson (13), Joseph Currie, Malcolm Pfaff, Peter Hastings (2)
Horns [Principal] – Timothy Brown (2)
Liner Notes – Paavo Berglund, Robert Layton
Liner Notes [English Translation] – W. F. Kirby
Mezzo-soprano Vocals – Raili Kostia
Oboe – Peter Walden
Oboe [Principal] – John Williams (18)
Orchestra – Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Percussion – Michael Froud
Percussion [Principal] – Jacqueline Gush
Photography By [Booklet] – Alexandra Chappell, Bournemouth*
Piccolo Flute – Kenneth Smith (6)
Piccolo Flute [Principal] – John Braddock (2)
Producer [Recording Producer] – Brian Culverhouse
Soprano Clarinet [E♭ Clarinet] – Patrick Dingle
Timpani [Principal] – Andrew Smith (30)
Trombone – Alwyn Green, Evan Watkin, Malcolm Warne-Holland
Trombone [Principal] – Denis Wise
Trumpet – Barrington Latchem, Brian Foreshaw, Graham Coote, William Kitchen (3)
Trumpet [Principal] – Rodney Senior
Tuba [Principal] – Alan Sinclair (3)
Viola – Alan Dancey, Cedric Morgan, Daphne Maxwell, Eric Joseph (2), Ian Pillow, Richard Willetts, Sally Brown (4), Sidney Todd, William Hallett, William Huddart
Viola [Principal] – Mary Samuel
Violin [First Violins, Leader, Principal] – Brendan O'Brien (2)
Violin [First Violins, Sub-Leader, Principal] – Donald Macdonald (4)
Violin [First Violins] – Alan Cutter, Alfred Jupp, Aoife Froud, Caroline Berthoud, Charles Thorgilson, David Shean, Jeffrey Plenty, Josephine Barnes, Judith Rodmell, Roger Foxwell, Sheila Whitmore, Sonya Dancey*, Susan Smith (6), Valentine Abaza
Violin [Second Violins, Principal] – Colin Verrall
Violin [Second Violins] – Charles Barnes, Edwin Paling, George Harrington-Kidd, Ian Harvey (4), John Butterworth (3), John Fulker, Julia Brocklehurst, Leslie Musk, Marilyn Downs, Molly Kirby, Peter Witham, Robert Colman (2), Timothy Colman
Notes:
Kullervo Symphony, Op. 7 - symphonic poem for soloists, chorus and orchestra
Cover: Detail from "Kullervo goes to Battle" by Akseli Gallen-Kallela. Published by kind permission of the Students' Union of the University of Helsinki.
Recorded in the Guildhall, Southampton.
Auto-coupled.
8-page booklet includes liner notes, photographs and lyrics in Finnish and English.
(Booklet)
℗ 1971
The photographs of Sibelius, his associations, etc., are published by courtesy of The Otava Publishing Co., Uudenmaankatu 8-12, Helsinki, Finland. An English version of the book from which the photographs were taken, with a text by Robert Layton, has been published by Thames & Hudson.
The English translation by W. F. Kirby of Runo XXXV and Runo XXXVI of the Finnish national epic poem "Kalevala" is reproduced by kind permission of J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd.
(Center labels, back cover) Manufactured by Capitol Records, Inc., a subsidiary of Capitol Industries, Inc., U.S.A.
(Booklet, back cover) Printed in U.S.A.
Durations:
Side 1: 27:40
Side 2: 24:26
Side 3: 18:45
Side 4: 20:38
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Other (Library of Congress catalog card number): 71-752437
Matrix / Runout (Center labels, record 1 (sides A and D)): SB-3778-1
Matrix / Runout (Center labels, record 2 (sides B and C)): SB-3778-2
Matrix / Runout (Center label, side A): S-1-36797
Matrix / Runout (Center label, side B): S-1-36798
Matrix / Runout (Center label, side C): S-2-36798
Matrix / Runout (Center label, side D): S-2-36797
Matrix / Runout (Center label, side A): 2YEA-4223
Matrix / Runout (Center label, side B): 2YEA-4224
Matrix / Runout (Center label, side C): 2YEA-4225
Matrix / Runout (Center label, side D): 2YEA-4226
Matrix / Runout (Runout, side A): S1-36797-F2 IAM [in a triangle]
Matrix / Runout (Runout, side B): S1-36798-F1 IAM [in a triangle]
Matrix / Runout (Runout, side C): S2-36798-F1 IAM [in a triangle]
Matrix / Runout (Runout, side D): S2-36797-F1 IAM [in a triangle]
Jean
Sibelius, Helsinki University Men's Choir*, Raili Kostia, Usko
Viitanen, Paavo Berglund, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra – Kullervo
& Incidental Music To Strindberg's "Swanwhite"
Label: Angel Records – SB-3778
Format: 2 x Vinyl, LP
Box Set
Country: US
Released: 1971
Genre: Classical
Style: Romantic
Label: Angel Records – SB-3778
Format: 2 x Vinyl, LP
Box Set
Country: US
Released: 1971
Genre: Classical
Style: Romantic
Viewfinder links:
Net links:
Classics Today ~ Sibelius: Kullervo/Davis SACD
eclassical ~ Jean Sibelius ~ Kalervo
Gramophone ~ Sibelius Kullervo Symphony
NY Times ~ Kalervo
Opera Today ~ Jean Sibelius: Kullervo
Sibelius website ~ Kullervo
YouTube links:
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