Jean Sibelius (1865 - 1957), 6 Impromptus, Op.5 (1893)
Performed by Håvard Gimse
00:00 - No. 1 Moderato: G Minor 02:23 - No. 2 Lento: G Minor 04:03 - No. 3 Moderato (alla marcia): A Minor 06:16 - No. 4 Andantino: E Minor 08:32 - No. 5 Vivace: B Minor 11:40 - No. 6 Commodo: E Major
In common with other composers of the period, Sibelius might have expected to find a commercial market for his piano music, particularly for sets of short pieces suitable for domestic performance. Although his writing for the piano is seldom idiomatic, he composed a number of works for the instrument, the first from the 1880s unpublished, as was the last set of pieces, written in 1929. The first to be published, in 1893, were the Six Impromptus Op. 5, issued in the same year as his well known Karelina Suite. No. 1 in G minor market Moderato, has an introduction of solemn chords, leading to a solemn theme in the lower register. No. 2, also in G minor, has a brief slow introduction, leading to a vivace dance with a contrasting G major section. No. 3 in A minor is marked Moderato (alla marcia). Set over a repeated bass pattern, it has a gentler F major trio section over pedal notes. The E minor impromptu, No. 4, is in a modd of gentle melancholy, suggesting a folk song. Vivace arpeggios characterize No. 5 and hte set ends with No. 6 in E major, marked Commodo. Again there is a repeated bass pattern, accompanying a wistful melody.