Composer

:

Jean Sibelius

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1894

Average_duration

:

2:15

"And I Questioned No Further, Op. 17/1" is a composition by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. It was composed in 1898 and premiered on February 17, 1899, in Helsinki, Finland. The piece is part of a larger work called "Kullervo," which is a symphonic poem based on the Finnish epic poem "Kalevala." "And I Questioned No Further" is the first movement of "Kullervo" and is a choral piece for mixed choir and orchestra. The text is taken from the "Kalevala" and tells the story of Kullervo, a tragic hero who is sold into slavery as a child and seeks revenge against his oppressors. The music is dark and brooding, reflecting the somber mood of the text. The piece begins with a slow, mournful introduction in the orchestra, which sets the tone for the rest of the movement. The choir enters with a quiet, almost whispered, rendition of the text, which gradually builds in intensity as the orchestra joins in. The music is characterized by its use of chromaticism and dissonance, which create a sense of unease and tension. As the piece progresses, the choir and orchestra alternate between moments of quiet introspection and explosive outbursts of emotion. The climax of the movement comes towards the end, as the choir sings the text "And I questioned no further, but wept bitterly," accompanied by a powerful orchestral crescendo. Overall, "And I Questioned No Further" is a haunting and powerful piece of music that captures the tragic spirit of the "Kalevala" and the character of Kullervo. Its use of dissonance and chromaticism was groundbreaking for its time and helped establish Sibelius as one of the leading composers of the late Romantic era.

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