SIBELIUS VIISI JOULULAULUA OP1 LAULU JA PIANO

The Urtext edition (2023) of Jean Sibelius' Five Christmas Songs op. 1 for voice and piano is based on the critical edition presented in the volume VIII/2 Works for Solo Voice Vol. 2 of Jean Sibelius Works (JSW) edited by Jukka Tiilikainen. The lyrics are included in Swedish, Finnish and English.

Sakari Ylivuori's introduction illuminates the history of the beloved songs: ''May 1, 1913 was cold and wet. Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) spent the day at home at Ainola composing two Christmas songs: settings of poems for children by Zachris Topelius. The two songs born on that chilly spring day were Nu står jul vid snöig port (Now stands Yule at the snowy gate) and Nu så kommer julen (Now is Christmas coming). He then put them together with three Christmas carols he had earlier composed and gave the set the imposing Opus number 1. He had previously considered giving the distinction to various other works, but from 1915 onwards the Five Christmas Songs had the honour of heading his catalogue.