page_title: Jean Sibelius
section_title: Life
hierarchical_section_title: Jean Sibelius / Life
caption_attribution_description: English: The Finnish composer Jean Sibelius as a school boy Suomi: Säveltäjä Jean Sibelius koulupoikana
context_page_description: Jean Sibelius, born Johan Julius Christian Sibelius, was a Finnish composer and violinist of the late Romantic and early-modern periods. He is widely recognized as his country's greatest composer and, through his music, is often credited with having helped Finland to develop a national identity during its struggle for independence from Russia.
  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. 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, chamber music, piano music, Masonic ritual music, and 21 publications of choral music.
caption: 11-year-old Sibelius in 1876
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