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Sibelius Opus 113 Masonic Ritual Music

TheThumbPuppy

Registered User
I've tried to find the full music score (organ, tenor and male choir) for the Opus 113 (Masonic Ritual Music) by Sibelius for some time with disappointing results.

Have you come across this score? Does any of you have any information on how to get a copy?
 

Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
I've tried to find the full music score (organ, tenor and male choir) for the Opus 113 (Masonic Ritual Music) by Sibelius for some time with disappointing results.

Have you come across this score? Does any of you have any information on how to get a copy?
With which publishers did you check?
 

TheThumbPuppy

Registered User
No publisher in particular. Did you have one in mind?

I made a google search and click on every result for the first three or four pages.
I found a couple of recordings but no music scores

I also checked imslp.org (International Music Score Library Project - public domain music)
 

TheThumbPuppy

Registered User
Thank you for finding a missing piece of the puzzle!

I couldn't quite understand why I was able to find so much of his works published by Breitkopf & Härtel in cooperation with the National Library of Finland, but not opus 113. The Grand Lodge of Finland is a great trail to follow.

The article you posted also points out that "an inscribed, bound copy of this great work was presented to the Grand Lodge of New Your [sic New York] by Sibelius [in 1935]. It was published for Mason use that year by Grand Lodge with an English test [sic text] by RW Marshall Kernochan, a past Grand Trustee of New York."

The Grand Lodge of New York may also have that specific version with the English text in their library.

To be continued ...
 

Elexir

Registered User
Thank you for finding a missing piece of the puzzle!

I couldn't quite understand why I was able to find so much of his works published by Breitkopf & Härtel in cooperation with the National Library of Finland, but not opus 113. The Grand Lodge of Finland is a great trail to follow.

The article you posted also points out that "an inscribed, bound copy of this great work was presented to the Grand Lodge of New Your [sic New York] by Sibelius [in 1935]. It was published for Mason use that year by Grand Lodge with an English test [sic text] by RW Marshall Kernochan, a past Grand Trustee of New York."

The Grand Lodge of New York may also have that specific version with the English text in their library.

To be continued ...

https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/titl...harmonium-organ-opus-113-sheet-music/20229841 ?
 

TheThumbPuppy

Registered User
Thank you for the link.

I saw that, but I'm afraid it's incomplete, although the title says "complete works".

It seems to contain "Nos. 2-3-4-5-6-7; Musique religieuse." Music religieuse is the non-masonic title of Masonic Ritual Music.

I believe the complete opus 113 contains nr 1 to 11 in the original version from 1927, with nr 12 added sometime before 1948:
  • No.1. Avaushymni (Opening Hymn)
  • No.2. Suloinen aate (Thoughts be our Comfort)
  • No.3. Kulkue ja Hymni (Procession and Hymn): Naatko kuinka hennon yrtin (Though Young Leaves Be Green)
  • No.4. Kulkue ja Hymni (Procession and Hymn): Ken kyynelin (Who Ne'er Hath Blent His Bread with Tears)
  • No.5. On kaunis maa (How Fair Are Earth and Living)
  • No.6. Salem (Procession 'Onward, Ye Brethen')
  • No.7. Hymni (Hymn): Kella kaipuu rinnassansa (Whosoever Hath a Love)
  • No.8. Veljesvirsi (Ode to Fraternity)
  • No.9. Ylistyshymni (Hymn)
  • No.10. Marche funebre (Funeral March)
  • No.11. Suur' olet, Herra (Ode)
  • No.12. Finlandia-hymni (Finlandia Hymn)
Meanwhile I found another source that says that it was composed for Suomi Loosi No. 1 .
 

Matt1

Registered User
The notes to Finlandia hymn are certainly available, however with non-masonic lyrics.

Sibelius was a patriotic man and composed lots of patriotic music, including Finlandia.

From what I have read, Sibelius didn't continue his masonic activities long after completing the Musique Religieuse or Opus 113. But should you visit the Finnish masonic museum, Sibelius is well presented and his masonic music is playing. I am not a mason but if i remember correctly, they do use Sibelius' ceremony music in Finnish freemasonry. I`m not sure what the Swedish freemasonsin Finland use?

I hope my countrymen will correct me if I'm wrong.
 
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TheThumbPuppy

Registered User
The notes to Finlandia hymn are certainly available, however with non-masonic lyrics.

You're quite right. I believe it was written at a different point in time and appended to Opus 113.

There are also quite a few available versions of No.6. Salem (Procession 'Onward, Ye Brethen') – that was renamed 'Onward, Ye People' in non-masonic settings.

I took for granted that he did continue his masonic activities until the end of his life, as he made revisions and additions to opus 113 from 1926 to 1948. But I haven't read a detailed biography of his.
Sibelius, who had been a noted musician more than 25 years, was appointed Grand Organist for the new Grand Lodge, a post he held throughout his life. http://www.angelfire.com/tx/masonmusic/sibelius.html
Sibelius was one of the founding members of Suomi Lodge No. 1 in 1922 and later became the Grand Organist of the Grand Lodge of Finland. He composed the ritual music used in Finland (Op. 113) in 1927 and added two new pieces composed in 1946. The new revision of the ritual music of 1948 is one of his last works. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Sibelius#Freemasonry
 
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Elexir

Registered User
The notes to Finlandia hymn are certainly available, however with non-masonic lyrics.

Sibelius was a patriotic man and composed lots of patriotic music, including Finlandia.

From what I have read, Sibelius didn't continue his masonic activities long after completing the Musique Religieuse or Opus 113. But should you visit the Finnish masonic museum, Sibelius is well presented and his masonic music is playing. I am not a mason but if i remember correctly, they do use Sibelius' ceremony music in Finnish freemasonry. I`m not sure what the Swedish freemasonsin Finland use?

I hope my countrymen will correct me if I'm wrong.

There is a certain amount of freedom regarding music so I guess they could just play Sibelius if they want to.
 

Matt1

Registered User
I read from Wikipedia that Sibelius didn' attended lodge meetings after 1926 since he was traveling a lot. If he was home, his "Ainola" estate in Järvenpää was 40 kilometres away from his lodge and in 1926 Sibelius was already 61 years of age.

Still, the last additions to op.113 were among the last pieces he ever finished. After that he concentrated to the 8th symphony which he was never content with and which ended up in the Ainola fireplace.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Sibelius
 

JanneProeliator

Registered User
Hello.

Greetings from Finland.

We do use ritual music composed solely by Sibelius in our blue lodge meetings.

I believe a CD of his ritual music and all the notes to his music can be purchased from the Grand lodge of Finland. Grand lodge of New York also has the CD and notes at least on their collection because I know they have been given to them by our Grand lodge.

We just had an amazing lecture about Sibelius last fall in our lodge by one of the Finnish music profesor who is also a disctrict grand officer.

But to try to get the masonic music by sibelius contact The Granf Lodge of Finland. www.vapaamuurarit.fi
 

JanneProeliator

Registered User
Wow... I didn't even know he was a Freemason..
He was the founding member of Suomi #1 in 1920.
This year will be 100 years since Freemasonry was introduced again here in Finland. (We had Swedish Rite back in 1700-1800 for few decades but it ended up dying.

I could make a brief history of Finnish freemasonry post in here later this week if brethren are interrested.
 

TheThumbPuppy

Registered User
contact The Grand Lodge of Finland

Thank you, that was very kind of you. Another Finnish friend also suggested the same thing. I will ask the secretary of my Lodge to help me with the proper protocol to contact them.

Meanwhile I'm waiting to receive a 1936 edition from the US, which I'm told has some differences from the original edition written for Suomi Loosi No. 1
 

JanneProeliator

Registered User
Thank you, that was very kind of you. Another Finnish friend also suggested the same thing. I will ask the secretary of my Lodge to help me with the proper protocol to contact them.

Meanwhile I'm waiting to receive a 1936 edition from the US, which I'm told has some differences from the original edition written for Suomi Loosi No. 1

I havent recearched into old rituals used in finland that much yet but I am reading a book about the early states of freemasonry in here and the ritual lived quite a bit when it first came here from New York. If I remember correctly by the hands of American brothers and by our native Finnish brothers who translated the text to Finnish.
 
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