Lemminkäinen Suite, Op. 22 ‘Four Legends’ - Jean Sibelius
Lemminkäinen Suite, Op. 22 ‘Four Legends’ by Jean Sibelius
Sibelius completed this suite in 1895, with the premiere performance being held in April 1896 in Helsinki, Finland. Sibelius had originally intended for the work to be an opera based on the folk hero Lemminkäinen from Finnish mythology. Sibelius instead decided to adapt the work into a suite.
The work is comprised of four movements: I. Lemminkäinen and the Maidens of the Island 00:00 II. The Swan of Tuonela 17:09 III. Lemminkäinen in Tuonela 26:55 IV. Lemminkäinen's Return 42:51
The second movement ‘The Swan of Tuonela’ is the most well recognised section of this suite and begins at 17:09.
The Blue Danube Waltz, Op. 314 by Johann Strauss II
This waltz was composed by Johann Strauss Junior in 1866, and premiered in 1867 at a concert by the Vienna Men’s Choral Association. The original version of the waltz had an accompanying choral section. Strauss arranged a new version of the original choral work into an orchestral version.
Concerto for Flute, Harp, and Orchestra in C Major, K. 299/297c by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Composed in 1778 while Mozart was living in Paris. At the time, the harp was still relatively new to the orchestra and featuring the instrument in this fashion was unusual. Mozart was commissioned for this work by duke Adrien-Louis de Bonnières, duc de Guînes, and the duke’s daughter Marie-Louise Philippine. The duke was a talented flautist and his daughter was taking lessons for the harp.
The work is comprised of three movements:
I. Allegro
II. Andantino
III. Rondeau – Allegro
Karelia Suite, Op. 11: ‘March (Alla Marcia)’ by Jean Sibelius
Sibelius composed his Karelia Suite in 1893 for the Viipuri Students’ Association. The original Karelia music was a collection of various Finnish folk songs. The suite condenses these songs into a three-movement composition. The March is played after during fifth tableau.
Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74 ‘Pathétique Symphony’ by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Tchaikovsky completed this symphony in 1893, with the first performance taking place in October of 1893 in St Petersburg. Tchaikovsky conducted this performance, and it would be his last as he died nine days later.
The music is comprised of four movements:
I. Adagio – Allegro non troppo
II. Allegro con grazia
III. Allegro molto vivace
IV. Finale: Adagio lamentoso
The Carnival of the Animals: Wild Donkeys Swift Animals by Camille Saint-Saëns
Camille Saint-Saëns composed his musical suite ‘The Carnival of the Animals’ in 1886 while on leave in Austria. The original work was intended for small collection of instruments taking priority in each respective movement of the suite, however the popularity of the work has since seen the entire suite adapted for orchestra.
The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughan Williams
Vaughan Williams composed this single movement work in 1921. It is based on the 1881 poem of the same name by English poet George Meredith. The work was originally for violin and piano, however Vaughan Williams later adapted it to violin and orchestra. The orchestral version was premiered at the Queen’s Hall in London in 1921.
Fantasia No. 3 in D minor, K. 397/385g by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Mozart composed the introduction to what would probably have been a larger fantasia in 1782, but unfortunately died before completing the work. German musician August Eberhard Müller provided a completion to the fantasia and this version is now the most well recognised.
Canon and Gigue in D, PWC. 37 by Johann Pachelbel
This work was most likely composed between 1680 and 1706. It is possible it was composed for the wedding of Johann Christoph Bach (brother of Johann Sebastian Bach). At this time, Pachelbel was working in Austria.
String Quintet in E major, Op. 11, No. 5 by Luigi Boccherini
Boccherini composed this quintet in 1775 while working in the Spanish province of Ávila. The quintet is comprised of four movements:
• Amoroso
• Allegro e con spirito
• Minuetto, Trio (A major)
• Rondeau, andante
The most recognised section of this quintet is the third movement which begins at the 12:53 mark, often performed separately from the other movements.