Loviisa, Finland
Enjoy the waning days of summer. See you sometime in September.
Listening List
Armas Järnefelt (1869-1958), Praeludium and Berceuse (1904)
Järnefelt came from a family that has had an exceptional impact on the cultural history of Finland. His parents were confirmed members of the Finnish-minded faction, and his mother in particular, Elisabeth Clodt von Jürgensburg, who came from a Baltic baronial family, supported young Finnish artists in many ways. Armas was not the only child to leave his mark on the Finnish arts scene: his brother Arvid became a major novelist, and his brother Eero became an important painter. His sister Aino married his fellow student Jean Sibelius. [citation]
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957), Piano trio in C major, “Loviisa trio”, for violin, cello and piano (1888)
Jean Sibelius composed a considerable amount of chamber music during his years at the Helsinki Music Institute. He concealed a certain amount of it from his teacher Martin Wegelius, whose stylistic ideals did not entirely correspond to the thoughts of the young composer. Sibelius felt less constrained during the summer, when he composed piano trios. These he also referred to according to the places of their composition; hence we have the “Havträsk”, “Korpo” and “Loviisa” trios. Of these, the sunny and unproblematic Loviisa trio is the one performed most frequently. [citation]
On YouTube
Armas Järnefelt
<<<>>>
Credits: The quotations may be found at the links cited in the post. The photographs, as always on the blog unless otherwise indicated, are mine.
Loviisa, Finland
Prufrock's Dilemma 
Hello Susan,
This music really does conjure up images of a country we have yet to visit but feel that we know.
Enjoy the last breaths of summer, they are special moments. We too find the chill of September is already in the air. This music is perfectly fitting!
Hello Susan,
Sibelius’ music really does conjure up for us images in our minds for a country we have yet to visit but that we feel we know. It is a perfect accompaniment too for these last days of summer when the chill of Autumn is most definitely in the air.
Enjoy a well deserved break. We await your safe return!
Jane & Lance: I love what you’ve stated (here and in the earlier comment, which I think was from you, as well–similar, but also different, so I’ve included both). I don’t know whether I have courage enough to go to the north country in winter, yet I know that’s how you really get inside this landscape and the music that has emerged from its icy sun.
Sunny and unproblematic seems just the ticket these days. May your days away be so! We’ll look forward to your return.
shoreacres: Amen to that, and I hope your days have been, as well!