Jean Sibelius - The Trees, Op 75 (Gimse)

Cinq Morceaux Opus 75 (1914-19)
Sibelius's "tree cycle" is one of the finest examples of the composer's sensitive, pantheistic way of feeling: "the trees speak" to him. The popularity of the opus speaks for itself.
0:00 - 1. När rönnen blommar (Allegretto, 1914)
"When the Rowan Blossoms" brings to mind Tchaikovsky's piano songs. It is a "chanson triste" or a "chanson sans paroles".
2:02 - 2. Den ensamma furan (Grave, 1914)
"The Solitary Pine" gives an impression of utter steadfastness. At the time of its composition it was interpreted as a symbol of Finland standing firm against the icy winds from the east.
4:45 - 3. Aspen (Andantino, 1914)
"The Aspen" breathes enigmatic impressionism. The responses from the baritone register of the left hand and the bare accompanying chords on the right hand are Nordic in their taciturnity.
7:05 - 4. Björken (Allegro, 1914)
"The Birch", the favourite tree of the Finns, "stands so white". The first two strophes of the piece are in B flat Mixolydian mode. Their left-hand ostinato produces the effect of a field, by minimalist means. The Misterioso closing of the work, the third strophe, remains strangely open: the scale points in the direction of A flat Mixolydian, but it can also be interpreted as striving in the direction of a D flat centre. The riddle is not solved, since a low D flat note appears under the concluding open chord (A flat - E flat).
8:46 - 5. Granen, Le sapin (Stretto-Lento; 1919)
"The Spruce" is one of Sibelius's indisputable hits, a slow waltz comparable to Valse triste. The fast arpeggios in the Risoluto section are truly stunning.
Might upload my own performance of No 5, it is such a beautiful piece :) Sorry for deviating from Liszt xD
Pf: Håvard Gimse

[@TheModicaLiszt]

My performance of No 5:
th-cam.com/video/nHcRXbfTDHw/w-d-xo.htmlsi=_LLvGaH0BEikJWLt

[@stevew1669]

Beautifully played! Sibelius has a naunced northern melancholy and it comes over well on piano when it's played sympathetically. Lovely phrase shapes and rubato/dynamics

[@n.9352]

might be my favorite version of this piece

[@RyanPower]

These are great, thanks for sharing!

[@TheModicaLiszt]

They’re a personal favourite set of mine, wondered why a score video wasn’t uploaded sooner 😊

[@FabienProxTrm]

@@TheModicaLiszt I even have a "official non official clip visualiser nature version" which is even better and, hopefully, will become the new trenddddd in classical video production!

[@Pedro-ml5mb]

Exceptional work!👍🤌

[@FabienProxTrm]

Having played all of them, I can say these are fantastic pieces! They're on my youtube channel btw. Big favorite is, obviously, Granen. Aspen also has something that so serene to it. Don't agree with all the musical decisions (tempo wise espeeeeccially) of the interpret, but it's still a nice rendition of the op75 :)

[@MrMan-gj2vr]

I only found this music from your channel just wanted to say thank u! I hope one day we can hear the other pieces by him that u learned

[@FabienProxTrm]

@@MrMan-gj2vr there are some projects for this summer 😁 Cheers from Canada!

[@Laura-jv4by]

Hello, and what tempos would you use? I find it interesting

[@ryanchanwz]

10:30 Fast arpeggios in the Risoluto

[@FabienProxTrm]

Horrendously fast! There's a whole bass line there that's just soooo pretty, and the arpegios just add spice to that. It's played so fast we can't even hear anything going on!

[@Asi1939]

Exactly

[@jonjoe9657]

Really nice!

[@TheModicaLiszt]

Thank you :)

[@lillypad0205]

4:05

[@FocusMrbjarke]

Reminds me of tchaikovsky seasons.

[@FabienProxTrm]

a lot fancier though, and with a lot more of a nordic feel in my opinion hehe. I might be biased though!

[@stalkerstomper3304]

I had lost almost all heart and hope... and then, through a hole in a blown out cave, I walked in, and behold! A beautiful woman with wings and a fairy wand appeared with this heavenly tune being played on her celestial harp. I tried to approach slowly out of respect and reverence, but being so desperate for life, I ran towards her while she floated upon the glistening water... the water of life.
She just smiled and bathed me in the water. A water so warm and invigorating that I wanted to draw in as much of it as I could, but alas, she wished me farewell having saved my life, and all I could offer her were some gems and a butterfly net.
Upon exiting the cave, I was transpoted back to the Light World, and turning around, lo and behold my sweet princess was waiting with arms opened to greet me. Someday, I'll make her my wife, and we'll be wed within the fountain of life among the Fairies.
---- Signed,
Link

[@TheModicaLiszt]

Ok

[@stalkerstomper3304]

@@TheModicaLiszt If you've ever played the Legend of Zelda, you might recognize the opening of the Fairey Fountain music as having been pretty much ripped off of the opening harp-like melodic arpeggios of Sibelius' The Spruce. 😊

[@TheModicaLiszt]

@@stalkerstomper3304 It wasn’t ripped off? The chords are different, the figuration is different? Koji Kondo was indeed a genius with that sountrack anyway

[@stalkerstomper3304]

@@TheModicaLiszt I agree, but the influence seems too similar to have been accidental. I love both of them, so I'm happy either way ☺

[@nims9574]

@@stalkerstomper3304arpeggiated progressions of 7th chords are super common in music. That’s like saying a painter ripped off the color blue from another

[@foxfire7779]

Amazing :)
And will you make two polonaise from St.stanislaus?

[@TheModicaLiszt]

S.519... I’ll see if I can find decent recordings 😅

[@TheModicaLiszt]

th-cam.com/video/mG35v0GHoU8/w-d-xo.html

[@LisztyLiszt]

Chopin Ballade in F Minor

[@TheModicaLiszt]

Don’t like it

[@lordbensmiteroflibtardoidl6639]

Hey when are you playing this?

[@TheModicaLiszt]

th-cam.com/video/nHcRXbfTDHw/w-d-xo.htmlsi=_LLvGaH0BEikJWLt

[@PointyTailofSatan]

Needs more bark. Less sappy playing.