Composer

Jean Sibelius

1865–1957 · Hämeenlinna · Finland

His father, a doctor, died of typhoid when he was three and left the family in debt. An uncle gave him a violin at ten, and he hoped to become a virtuoso before turning to composition, studying in Helsinki under Martin Wegelius and Ferruccio Busoni. Finland's national composer, he wrote seven symphonies. The hymn tune here is drawn from his tone poem Finlandia.

Tune

1

Lived

1865–1957

Hymnal

1