Finlandia hymn

The Finlandia hymn (Finnish: Finlandia-hymni) refers to a serene hymn-like section of the patriotic symphonic poem Finlandia, written in 1899 and 1900 by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. It was later re-worked by the composer into a stand-alone piece.[1] With words written in 1940 by Veikko Antero Koskenniemi,[2] it is one of the most important national songs of Finland (though Maamme is the national anthem).[3]

Other major uses of the tune include several Christian hymns and other national songs.

Finnish national song

After the success of the full-length symphonic poem (most of which consists of rousing and turbulent passages, evoking the national struggle of the Finnish people), Sibelius published a stand-alone version of the hymn as the last of twelve numbers in his Masonic Ritual Music, Op. 113, with a text by opera singer Wäinö Sola. The version usually heard today has lyrics written by Veikko Antero Koskenniemi and was first performed in 1941. Sibelius himself arranged the hymn for choral performances.[4] Today, during modern performances of Finlandia in its entirety, a choir is sometimes involved, singing the Finnish lyrics with the hymn section.[5]

The de facto national anthem of Finland is Maamme (Our Land), but it has never been officially recognised. There have been numerous suggestions that Finlandia should become the national anthem. However, Maamme is already so widely recognised and used that it would be difficult to dislodge it.[3]

"This is my song"

In 1934, Lloyd Stone wrote "This is my song", to the Finlandia tune, as an international song of peace. An expanded version with Christian themes by a later author appears in many hymnals.[6]

Christian hymns

Other words commonly set to the tune include some Christian hymns. Among those in widespread use across English-speaking denominations are "Be still, my soul", "We rest on Thee", "At the table", "Dear friend of mine", "Land of the pine", "Christian Life" and "Our Farewell Song".[2]

"Be still, my soul"

The Christian hymn "Be still, my soul", written in German ("Stille meine Wille, dein Jesus hilft siegen") in 1752 by the Lutheran hymnwriter Katharina Amalia Dorothea von Schlegel (1697–1768) and translated into English in 1855 by Jane Laurie Borthwick (1813–1897), is usually sung to this tune.[7] It begins:

Be still, my soul, the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He, faithful, will remain.
Be still, my soul, thy best, thy heavenly friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

"We rest on Thee"

The hymn "We rest on Thee", written by Edith G. Cherry around 1895, is also commonly sung to the tune.[8] Its first verse is:

We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender!
We go not forth alone against the foe;
Strong in Thy strength, safe in Thy keeping tender,
We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.
Strong in Thy strength, safe in Thy keeping tender,
We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.

This hymn was sung by the five missionaries involved in Operation Auca before their deaths. A line from the hymn's final verse provided the title for Elisabeth Elliot's book about the incident, Through Gates of Splendor.

The tune was adopted for Biafra's national anthem, Land of the Rising Sun, during its attempted secession from Nigeria in the late 1960s.

In Wales the tune is often to the hymn "Gymru'n Gwlad" (For Wales, our country).

On a smaller scale it also serves as the tune for the songs of various colleges and schools.

Recordings by notable artists

References
  1. "Hymn Tune Finlandia". Hymnary.org.
  2. "Finlandia". Sibelius.
  3. ""Maamme" (Our country), brief history of the Finnish national anthem". Europeana Sound.
  4. Arnold, Elliott. Finlandia: the story of Sibelius. H. Holt and Company, 1941.
  5. Schwarm, Betsy. "Finlandia, Tone Poem For Orchestra By Sibelius". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  6. Daw Jr, Carl P. (25 May 2016). Glory to God: A Companion. Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press. pp. 344–5. ISBN 978-1-61164-652-8.
  7. "Be Still, My Soul". Cyberhymnal. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  8. "We Rest on Thee". Hymnary .org. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
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