It may be autumn
outside but on Clef Notes this week, it’s springtime!
Jean Sibelius’
Spring Song, originally titled Impromptu for Orchestra, premiered in 1894 and
left the composer disappointed. His father-in-law attended the concert, which
contained performances by Sibelius and his brother-in-law. When the later
received higher praise for his work, Sibelius decided to revise his piece,
reworking it and giving it the title we know today. The piece is well-loved
today, and often heard in springtime concerts across Finland.
Frederick Delius’
On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring is
the epitome of seasonal music. It comes from his two pieces for small orchestra
along with Summer Night on the River. In it, he uses the theme from Grieg’s
Norwegian Folk Tune, Op. 66, No. 14. Can you hear the cuckoo calls played by
the clarinet?
What are some of
your favorite pieces for springtime?
