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Jean Sibelius

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Composer

The Resume

    (December 8, 1865-September 20, 1957)
    Born in Hameenlinna, Finland
    Birth name was Johann Julius Christian Sibelius
    Composed seven symphonies
    Also composed 'Finlandia,' 'Karelia Suite,' 'The Swan of Tuonela' and the opera 'The Maiden in the Tower'

Why he might be annoying:

    He adopted the French version of his first name.
    Despite a stipend from the government, he was frequently in financial trouble due to his extravagance and heavy drinking.
    For the last 30 years of his life, he published no new works.
    He apparently wrote an 8th symphony (fragments from it were discovered in 2011) then destroyed it, having told friends, 'If I cannot write a better symphony than my Seventh, then it shall be my last.'
    The music critic for the Washington Post wrote, 'There are two things to be said straightaway about Sibelius. First, he is terribly uneven.... Second, at his very best, he is often weird.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was married to Aino Jarnefelt for 65 years until his death.
    Several of his compositions were inspired by the Finnish landscape and folksongs.
    British conductor/composer Constant Lambert called him 'the first great composer since Beethoven whose mind thinks naturally in terms of symphonic form.'
    He said about criticism, 'Pay no attention to what critics say. No statue has ever been put up to a critic.'
    Finland celebrates his birthday as 'the Day of Finnish Music.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 12 Votes: 58.33% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 16 Votes: 56.25% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 25 Votes: 64.00% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 6 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 17 Votes: 82.35% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 103 Votes: 51.46% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 42 Votes: 59.52% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 231 Votes: 72.29% Annoying