Jean Sibelius - His Life and Personality Quotes

“My maternal grandmother,” says Sibelius, “would not have approved by any means had I chosen such a risky and disreputable career as that of a musician. It is true she appreciated my artistic gifts and thoroughly approved of my efforts at composing, but the mere thought of music as an occupation seemed an abomination to her. She was old-fashioned, and had spent her life in the country and in the provincial town and looked upon a musician as on the same level as a wandering organ-grinder, or not far removed from it.”
― Karl Ekman, Jean Sibelius

“If I am asked,” Sibelius confesses, “what interested me most at school, I can say with a clear conscience: nothing. I must, however, make an exception in favour of natural science, which coincided with my love of nature. History was able to engross my attention at times, if it dealt with periods that appealed to my imagination; then I read the dry schoolbook as though it were a novel. My passion for Ossian’s romantic ancient world in my youth I must also, I suppose, ascribe to my interest in history. I must also not forget the classical languages that opened up a new exalted world of beauty: Homer and Horace had a significance in my development that I cannot value highly enough. Outside music literature interested me most. I remained true to the poets of my childhood, but I was also seized with interest in modern tendencies in Scandinavian literature.”
― Karl Ekman, Jean Sibelius

“I loved to take my violin with me on my summer rambles, so that, whenever I felt inspired, I could express it in music. During the summers in Sääksmäki I selected a platform, for preference consisting of a stone in Kalalahti with an enchanting view across Vanajavesi. There I gave the birds endless concerts. The neighbourhood of Lovisa. inspired me quite as much. When sailing I often stood in the bows with my violin and improvised to the sea.” Nature played on a rich register in the soul of the youth.”
― Karl Ekman, Jean Sibelius

“Our family trio played classical music almost exclusively, the works of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. By this means my taste was developed from the very first in a very strict direction. I still remember that during the first year of our playing together we came across a work of Mendelssohn’s—I think it was a sonata for violin and piano in F minor. I was so thoroughly impregnated with the classical spirit that I could not bear the piece.”
― Karl Ekman, Jean Sibelius