Winter dreams with Tchaikovsky and Sibelius

When Jean Sibelius began work on his symphonic poem Finlandia in 1899, Finland was still part of the Russian Empire, previously belonging to Sweden. The Finns wanted to be independent, but were still searching for their own identity and national pride. Sibelius' Finlandia solved that at once. The work begins menacingly, continues turbulently, expressing the struggle for Finnish independence, and then concludes jubilantly: Finland is proud, independent and free. The four-part hymn Finlandia that Sibelius based on that closing passage is still the unofficial second national anthem of Finland, and Sibelius is not only the most popular Finnish composer, but one of the most popular Finns ever.

Tchaikovsky

In his First Symphony, Tchaikovsky reminisces about the winters of his youth. The first movement is subtitled "Dreaming of a Winter Vacation," and the remaining movements are also very evocative and atmospheric. The symphony is varied and never ceases to surprise.