Composer

:

Jean Sibelius

Genre

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

1907

Average_duration

:

3:11

"Listen to the Water Mill" (Op. 44, No. 2, JS 122) is a choral work composed by Jean Sibelius in 1905. The piece was premiered on May 13, 1905, in Helsinki, Finland, by the Helsinki University Chorus, conducted by the composer himself. The work is divided into three movements, each with its own distinct character. The first movement, marked "Andante," is a gentle and flowing setting of the poem by Finnish poet L. Onerva. The choir sings of the water mill, its peaceful sound, and the beauty of the surrounding nature. The music is characterized by its use of flowing, arpeggiated figures in the piano accompaniment, which evoke the sound of the water. The second movement, marked "Allegro moderato," is a lively and rhythmic setting of a folk song from the Karelia region of Finland. The choir sings of the joys of dancing and the happiness it brings. The music is characterized by its use of syncopated rhythms and lively, dance-like melodies. The final movement, marked "Andante con moto," returns to the theme of the water mill. The choir sings of the passing of time, and the inevitability of change. The music is characterized by its use of shifting harmonies and a sense of melancholy, as the choir contemplates the transience of life. Overall, "Listen to the Water Mill" is a beautiful and evocative work that showcases Sibelius's skill as a composer of choral music. The piece is notable for its use of folk melodies and its evocative depictions of nature, as well as its exploration of themes of time and change.

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