Composer

:

Jean Sibelius

Genre

:

Orchestral

Style

:

Suite

Compose Date

:

1906 - 1907

Average_duration

:

13:13

Movement_count

:

4

Movement ....

Belshazzar's Feast, suite, Op. 51 is a composition by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. It was composed in 1906 and premiered in Helsinki on November 25, 1906. The suite is based on the biblical story of Belshazzar's Feast, which tells the tale of the Babylonian king who defiled the sacred vessels of the Temple in Jerusalem and was subsequently punished by God. The suite is divided into five movements, each of which depicts a different aspect of the story. The first movement, "Oriental Procession," sets the scene with a grand, sweeping melody that evokes the opulence and grandeur of the Babylonian court. The second movement, "Solitude," is a hauntingly beautiful piece that reflects the loneliness and isolation of the exiled Jews in Babylon. The third movement, "Nocturne," is a dreamy, atmospheric piece that captures the sense of foreboding that pervades the story. The fourth movement, "Khadra's Dance," is a lively, rhythmic piece that depicts the dancing of the Babylonian courtesan Khadra. The final movement, "Orgy," is a frenzied, chaotic piece that depicts the drunken revelry of Belshazzar's feast and the subsequent destruction of Babylon. The suite is characterized by Sibelius's use of rich, colorful orchestration and his ability to evoke a wide range of emotions through his music. The suite is also notable for its use of exotic scales and rhythms, which give the music a distinctly Middle Eastern flavor. Overall, Belshazzar's Feast, suite, Op. 51 is a powerful and evocative work that showcases Sibelius's skill as a composer and his ability to tell a compelling story through music.

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