Through the Night

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  • smittims
    Full Member
    • Aug 2022
    • 4155

    I was interested to hear the 'original' 1892 version of En Saga this morning. It's a real curiosity; some of it doesn't sound like Sibelius at all, and I wondered if it was a hoax. At any rate I'm glad he re-wrote it ; interestingly he kept the original ending unchanged.

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    • AuntDaisy
      Host
      • Jun 2018
      • 1653

      Originally posted by smittims View Post
      I was interested to hear the 'original' 1892 version of En Saga this morning. It's a real curiosity; some of it doesn't sound like Sibelius at all, and I wondered if it was a hoax. At any rate I'm glad he re-wrote it ; interestingly he kept the original ending unchanged.
      Not sure if it helps, but Jonathan Swain, John Shea & Catriona Young added a few more details...

      Sibelius now here on Through the Night, his En Saga - a piece from the early 1890s when he was relatively new to Finnish culture, the title is in fact Swedish. Critics were bewildered at its premiere and a few years on Sibelius revised it, but this is a rare performance of Sibelius' original En Saga. A piece in which Sibelius said he wanted to conjure the atmosphere of a Nordic saga.
      Here's Sibelius to tell us a story. In fact, despite the title "En Saga", he never did give away much about the the story, or the stories behind the piece, just saying he wanted to conjure up the atmosphere of a Nordic saga. He revised the piece a few years later, but this is the original 1892 version
      This next piece has a Swedish title, but it's actually by Sibelius, who grew up speaking Swedish and Finnish. His tone poem En Saga was deeply personal - "In no other work" he said "have I revealed myself so completely".

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      • LMcD
        Full Member
        • Sep 2017
        • 8470

        Originally posted by AuntDaisy View Post
        Not sure if it helps, but Jonathan Swain, John Shea & Catriona Young added a few more details...




        I shall listen to this as soon as Private Passions has ended - I had no idea there was an earlier version of this work.
        (Where would we be without Sounds?)

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        • AuntDaisy
          Host
          • Jun 2018
          • 1653

          Originally posted by LMcD View Post
          I shall listen to this as soon as Private Passions has ended - I had no idea there was an earlier version of this work.
          (Where would we be without Sounds?)
          smittims kindly flagged it - perhaps Sibelius early versions should be suggested for BAL or COTW? They might unearth more performances of the 1892 version.

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          • LMcD
            Full Member
            • Sep 2017
            • 8470

            Originally posted by AuntDaisy View Post
            smittims kindly flagged it - perhaps Sibelius early versions should be suggested for BAL or COTW? They might unearth more performances of the 1892 version.
            There seems to be only 1 recording (Lahti SO / Vanska) of the original version of En Saga, coupled with the original 1915 version of the 5th symphony.
            My thanks to you and Smittims!

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            • smittims
              Full Member
              • Aug 2022
              • 4155

              I read it up in Erik Tawastjerna's definitive biography: he quotes a few passages in notation. Apparently the famous version we all know dates from 1902, after the second symphony.

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              • LMcD
                Full Member
                • Sep 2017
                • 8470

                Originally posted by smittims View Post
                I read it up in Erik Tawastjerna's definitive biography: he quotes a few passages in notation. Apparently the famous version we all know dates from 1902, after the second symphony.
                Robert Layton also gives 1902 as the date of the revised version, which was premiered the following year..
                I've just ordered the Vanska CD from World of Books for £3.59!
                Last edited by LMcD; 28-04-24, 13:14.

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                • AuntDaisy
                  Host
                  • Jun 2018
                  • 1653

                  Originally posted by LMcD View Post
                  Robert Layton also gives 1902 as the date of the revised version, which was premiered the following year..
                  I've just ordered the Vanska CD from World of Books for £3.59!
                  Just finished listening to it on NML, really enjoyed the 1915 version of the 5th as well, CD ordered.
                  The booklet makes interesting reading (inc. some odd typesetting of "o").
                  You're both terrible influences! Thanks.
                  Last edited by AuntDaisy; 28-04-24, 16:40.

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                  • LMcD
                    Full Member
                    • Sep 2017
                    • 8470

                    Originally posted by AuntDaisy View Post
                    Just finished listening to it on NML, really enjoyed the 1915 version of the 5th as well, CD ordered.
                    The booklet makes interesting reading (inc. some odd typesetting of "o").
                    You're both terrible influences! Thanks.
                    Gosh - I'm an influencer! (Is that a good thing, I wonder)

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                    • Serial_Apologist
                      Full Member
                      • Dec 2010
                      • 37687

                      Originally posted by smittims View Post
                      I read it up in Erik Tawastjerna's definitive biography: he quotes a few passages in notation. Apparently the famous version we all know dates from 1902, after the second symphony.
                      Well well! I've often wondered as to why the chill En Saga atmosphere I was used to sounded so unlike the other opulent, almost Wagnerian feel of some of his other works of the early 90s such as Kullervo, or the Tchaikovskyisms of the first two symphonies!

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                      • AuntDaisy
                        Host
                        • Jun 2018
                        • 1653

                        Originally posted by LMcD View Post
                        Gosh - I'm an influencer! (Is that a good thing, I wonder)
                        If, in addition to excellent advice, you offered small sweets, you could be a Tic Tac Influencer.

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                        • LMcD
                          Full Member
                          • Sep 2017
                          • 8470

                          Originally posted by AuntDaisy View Post
                          If, in addition to excellent advice, you offered small sweets, you could be a Tic Tac Influencer.
                          Tic Tac on Tik Tok?

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                          • kernelbogey
                            Full Member
                            • Nov 2010
                            • 5746

                            Originally posted by LMcD View Post

                            Tic Tac on Tik Tok?
                            Bringing a breath of fresh air to the platform.

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                            • Serial_Apologist
                              Full Member
                              • Dec 2010
                              • 37687

                              Originally posted by kernelbogey View Post

                              Bringing a breath of fresh air to the platform.
                              I've only just clocked that one!

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                              • smittims
                                Full Member
                                • Aug 2022
                                • 4155

                                I was sorry to hear Danielle say at about 4.15 this morning that Paganini 'could have been the fifth member of Led Zeppelin', that he was 'a rock star of sorts'. and 'move over, JImmy Page'. I've appreciated Danielle's contribution to TTN but I fear she's been told to start making such references as part of the 'crossover-ization ' on Radio 3. I do hope this isn't the thin end of Sam's wedge.

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