The core of his oeuvre is his set of seven symphonies, which, like his other major works, are regularly performed and recorded in his home country and internationally. His other best-known compositions are Finlandia, the Karelia Suite, Valse triste, the Violin Concerto, the choral symphony Kullervo, and The Swan of Tuonela (from the Lemminkäinen Suite). Other works include pieces inspired by nature, Nordic mythology, and the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala, over a hundred songs for voice and piano, incidental music for numerous plays, the opera Jungfrun i tornet (The Maiden in the Tower), chamber music, piano music, Masonic ritual music, and 21 publications of choral music.
Sibelius composed prolifically until the mid-1920s, but after completing his Seventh Symphony (1924), the incidental music for The Tempest (1926) and the tone poem Tapiola (1926), he stopped producing major works in his last thirty years, a stunning and perplexing decline commonly referred to as "The Silence of Järvenpää", the location of his home. Although he is reputed to have stopped composing, he attempted to continue writing, including abortive efforts on an eighth symphony. In later life, he wrote Masonic music and re-edited some earlier works while retaining an active but not always favourable interest in new developments in music.
The Finnish 100 mark note featured his image until 2002, when the euro was adopted.[4] Since 2011, Finland has celebrated a Flag Day on 8 December, the composer's birthday, also known as the "Day of Finnish Music". In 2015, the 150th anniversary of the composer's birth, a number of special concerts and events were held, especially in the city of Helsinki.
Säv säv susa
Jean Sibelius Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Våg våg slå
I sägen mig var ingalill
Den unga månde gå
Hon skrek som en vingskjuten and när hon sjönk i sjön
Det var när sista vår stod grön
De voro henne gramse vid östanålid
Det tog hon sig så illa vid
De voro henne gramse för gods och gull
Och för hennes unga kärleks skull
De stucko en ögonsten med tagg
De kastade smuts i en liljas dagg
Så sjungen sjungen sorgsång
I sorgsna vågor små
Säv säv susa
Våg våg slå
The lyrics to Jean Sibelius's song "Säv säv susa" depict a tale of a young woman named Ingalill, who meets a tragic end. The opening lines, "Säv säv susa, våg våg slå," create a sense of the surrounding nature, suggesting the sound of rustling reeds and the crashing waves. The next line, "I sägen mig var ingalill, den unga månde gå," indicates that Ingalill is the subject of a legend or a story.
The lyrics go on to describe Ingalill's fate, saying that she cried out like a wounded duck when she sank into the lake. This happened during the last green spring, indicating the timing of the event. The repetition of lines and the somber tone suggest a mourning of Ingalill's death.
The following stanzas suggest that Ingalill was mistreated by someone from the East Hill, which upset her greatly. They were angry with her because of her wealth and beauty, as well as her young love. They adorned a precious stone with a thorn and threw dirt into a lily's dew, indicating their malicious actions towards her.
The final lines, "Så sjungen sjungen sorgsång, i sorgsna vågor små. Säv säv susa, våg våg slå," further emphasize the mournful mood and the sounds of nature. The song captures the sadness and tragedy surrounding Ingalill's life and her untimely death.
Line by Line Meaning
Säv säv susa
Melodies, melodies whisper
Våg våg slå
Waves, waves crash
I sägen mig var ingalill
According to legend, there was a young girl named Ingalill
Den unga månde gå
The young girl had to leave
Hon skrek som en vingskjuten and när hon sjönk i sjön
She cried out like a wounded duck when she drowned in the lake
Det var när sista vår stod grön
It was when the last spring was green
De voro henne gramse vid östanålid
They were angry with her at Östanålid
Det tog hon sig så illa vid
She took it so badly
De voro henne gramse för gods och gull
They were angry with her for wealth and gold
Och för hennes unga kärleks skull
And for the sake of her young love
De stucko en ögonsten med tagg
They stuck a thorn in her precious stone
De kastade smuts i en liljas dagg
They threw dirt in a lily's dew
Så sjungen sjungen sorgsång
So they sung a mournful song
I sorgsna vågor små
In small, sorrowful waves
Säv säv susa
Melodies, melodies whisper
Våg våg slå
Waves, waves crash
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@JamesVaughan
Spine-tingling, unsurpassable…there will never be another Bjorling.
@lecarrozzerecords
he is so amazing, so simple and so perfect. He and Fritz Wünderlich...too short a time on earth..
@valdavoce5667
The master singing a master composer's song. This is like a whole opera in one song. Beautiful.
@ellandelachapelle
This beautiful poem is by one of Sweden´s greatest poets, Gustaf Fröding. He was from Värmland and used to idetity with young ill-treated women. This poem is about such an unhappy woman - who obviously drowned herself! (Sibelius had good taste in poetry.)
@paulostroff99
Superb.TY for sharing.
@bloydaage
I'm speechless!...
@schlesmail1
English translation, part 2 of 2: They were envious of her at Östanålid, She took it so deeply to heart. They envied her wealth and worldly goods, And her young love. They pierced an eyeball with thorns. They spattered filth on a lily's dew. So sing your lament, you small, sad waves, Reeds, reeds, whisper; waves, waves, lap. (thanx to The Lied and Art Song Texts Page)
@65attila
So gorgeous
@paulostroff99
A Finn and a Swede make music oh so sweet!
@schlesmail1
English translation, part 1 of 2: Reeds, reeds, whisper; waves, waves, lap. Are you telling me where young Ingalill has gone? She cried out like a wounded duck when she sank into the lake. It was when the spring was last green.