The Swan of Tuonela

If Sibelius is to be considered a good composer, then we shall have to disregard all of the criteria historically used to evaluate music from Bach to Schoenberg

Theodor Adorno

I became acquainted and ultimately enchanted with Sibelius' music through his harshest critic, Theodor Adorno (1903-1969), who had this thing with Sibelius's unasked for recognition by the Nazis and liked to chastise the composer for his “organ points.” (Anybody knows what this means? Drop me a note, please.)

Adorno didn't like it, he rooted for atonality and the work of Webern and of his own teacher, Alban Berg. I would be bragging if I said that my musical education was sketchy. Sketchy would be great! At least I could make head and tail of "organ points."

Well, whatever this is supposed to mean, it works for me.

The family expected Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) to study law; instead he took up music. Financially he fell on hard times after he had already retired from writing music altogether in 1926. Royalties and a state pension eventually secured his and his family's existence. In fact he became for Finland what the Japanese would call a national treasure.

In 1957 Sibelius died of a stroke.