Review (PDF)
Symphony No. 2 In D Major, Op. 43 (Dover Miniature Music Scores)

Finland's greatest composer and a dominant figure in the history of Scandinavian music, Jean Sibelius (1865–1957) is acknowledged worldwide for his mastery of symphonic forms and for his innovative, highly personalized orchestral scoring. His genius for thematic development and for capturing a sense of his Nordic homeland is nowhere more evident than in his second symphony, which ranks among his most accessible and popular works.A staple of the orchestral repertoire, this superb work is presented here in full score with bar-numbered movements. Ideal for study in the classroom, at home, or in the concert hall, this affordable, high-quality, conveniently sized volume will be the edition of choice for music students and music lovers alike.

Series: Dover Miniature Music Scores

Paperback: 160 pages

Publisher: Dover Publications (February 15, 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0486411737

ISBN-13: 978-0486411736

Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 0.4 x 8.5 inches

Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #1,934,322 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #21 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Sheet Music & Scores > Composers > Sibelius #263 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Sheet Music & Scores > Forms & Genres > Symphonies #619 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Sheet Music & Scores > Instrumentation > Orchestra

I thought these full orchestral scores in the miniature edition would be hard to read, but I was wrong. It's very easy to read, and there's a lot to learn from this underrated work.

This is the first symphony to make me cry. The symphony itself has a very fluid quality that swells with emotion and just when you think you've peaked, it seems to be able to take you a step higher.It's final movement is amazing how it slowly and almost unnoticeably builds to the climax at the end. It starts out with a moving bass line played pizzacato on the string bass that brings up the imagery of someone tip toeing through a haunted house. Then it lightens the mood with with a sense of confidence and reassurance. This movement has all the emotion of someone trying to save the world from famine and disease and miraculously succeeding. After it's final and highest plateau, Sibelius allows the listener to dwell in tears of joy before he finally concludes the piece.This symphony also features very regal sounding brass sections. The percussion is minimal but the timpani plays a vital role in giving this symphony it's power. There is also a lot of dialogue between the violins and flutes.A very moving and powerful piece to say the least.If your going to listen to a CD I recommend the Cleveland Orchestra's recording conducted by Joel Levi. The Leonard Berstein conducted recording is a little slow for my tastes and doesn't have as good intonation as Joel Levi's. If I remember correctly, Berstein was conducting the London Symphony.

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