The Best of Sibelius

Jean Sibelius (8 December 1865 – 20 September 1957), was a Finnish composer and violinist of the late Romantic and early-modern periods. He is widely recognized as his country's greatest composer and, through his music, is often credited with having helped Finland to develop a national identity during its struggle for independence from Russia. The core of his oeuvre is his set of seven symphonies, which, like his other major works, are regularly performed and recorded in his home country and internationally. His other best-known compositions are Finlandia, the Karelia Suite, Valse triste, the Violin Concerto, the choral symphony Kullervo, and The Swan of Tuonela (from the Lemminkäinen Suite). Other works include pieces inspired by nature, Nordic mythology, and the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala, over a hundred songs for voice and piano, incidental music for numerous plays, the opera Jungfrun i tornet (The Maiden in the Tower), chamber music, piano music, Masonic ritual music, and 21 publications of choral music. Sibelius composed prolifically until the mid-1920s, but after completing his Seventh Symphony (1924), the incidental music for The Tempest (1926) and the tone poem Tapiola (1926), he stopped producing major works in his last thirty years, a stunning and perplexing decline commonly referred to as "The Silence of Järvenpää", the location of his home. Although he is reputed to have stopped composing, he attempted to continue writing, including abortive efforts on an eighth symphony. In later life, he wrote Masonic music and re-edited some earlier works while retaining an active but not always favourable interest in new developments in music. The Finnish 100 mark note featured his image until 2002, when the euro was adopted. Since 2011, Finland has celebrated a Flag Day on 8 December, the composer's birthday, also known as the "Day of Finnish Music". In 2015, the 150th anniversary of the composer's birth, a number of special concerts and events were held, especially in the city of Helsinki. Jean Sibelius 1. Allegretto 2. Andante ma rubato 3. Vivacissimo 4. Finale, Allegro moderato 5. At the Castle Gate 6. M lisande 7. By the Seashore 8. By a Spring in the Park 9. The Three Blind Sisters 10. Pastorale 11. M lisande at the Spinning Wheel 12. Entr acte 13. M lisande s Death

REWIND: The first Filipino musical group to enter US Billboard Hot 100 chart

BY ROBERT REQUINTINA

Aug 8, 2023 00:15 AM

  

---

AT A GLANCE

• The Billboard Hot 100 singles chart premiered on Aug. 4, 1958. These days, the songs in the US chart are based on physical and digital sales, online streaming, and radio airplay.

---

Long before Jake Zyrus (Charice) hit the Billboard Hot 100 US chart with the songs "Pyramid" and "Note to God" in 2010, the Filipino musical group dubbed The Rockey Fellers debuted on the prestigious musical chart in May 1963.

The Rockey Fellers are composed of Doroteo Malignat and his sons Tony, Eddie, Junior, and Albert. 

Their hit song "Killer Joe," inspired by the King of Discotheque Killer Joe Piro," peaked the Billboard Hot 100 singles at No. 16. It was written by Bert Russell, Bob Medley, and Bob Elgin also in 1963.

The Rocky Fellers (YouTube)

The Rockey Fellers followed "Killer Joe '' with another hit song entitled "Like the Big Guys Do" which reached No. 55 on the same chart. 

But the success of The Rockey Fellers was cut short following the British invasion of the US music scene.

The Billboard Hot 100 singles chart premiered on Aug. 4, 1958. These days, the songs in the US chart are based on physical and digital sales, online streaming, and radio airplay.

Click below to listen to the first Filipino group that rocked the Billboard Hot 100 chart: 

https://youtu.be/zzT6VXteGSQ?list=OLAK5uy_nfGftKT-bK-KCKIFUzmQtgyIMn_r7_G_k