How the world-famous Sibelius turned nature into music

Jean Sibelius is a world-famous composer, and although locals know him, some foreigners are probably just familiar with the name from the popular tourist attraction Sibelius Monument built and named after the Finnish musician.

And as to any famous person, there lies a story about his life and his beautiful music. Who knows, at the end of the article, you might be a fan who'll not only start listening to his music, but also participate in various festivals and concerts held in Finland annually.

Jean Sibelius (1865–1957) deserves much of our attention since he is known not only for his seven symphonies and compositions, but also as the National Hero and best Finnish composer of all time. His breathtaking music was inspired by the amazing nature of Finland, the history and myths of people, and played a significant role in the country's independence. This is the reason why December 8 is called the Flag Day and the 'Day of Finnish Music' on the Finnish calendar, commemorating his birthday.

Sibelius’ music is also respected and admired all around the world. The Lahti Sibelius Festival is held every September annually in the city of Lahti. It's an internationally known festival and remains as an important cultural event in Finland. The festival tries to gather Sibelius enthusiasts from around the globe who get to enjoy a marvellous celebration of his music in the excellent acoustics of the Sibelius Hall. They can also marvel at the beauty of Lake Vesijärvi where the building is situated. For more information, visit sibeliusone.com or festivals.fi.

If you're are interested to know more about Sibelius; biography, birthplace, museums, and to do some sightseeing in Finland at the same time, here are some tips for you:

* Visit Sibelius birthplace in the city of Hämeenlinna, about 100 kilometers away from Helsinki.

* The Sibelius Monument in Helsinki is situated at the Sibelius Park, and in the district of Töölö; a popular tourist destination close to the sea and harbour.

*The villa of Ainola

Aino is the name of Sibelius’ wife, and Ainola, means ‘’the place of Aino’’. This villa is located in Järvenpää (38 kilometers north of the capital city of Helsinki), and where Sibelius and his family lived for more than 50 years. Sibelius needed the peace and to be far from the busy city in order to be able to concentrate. This is the place where he composed most of his works during this perios. The house was turned into a museum in 1974.

Visitors could also enjoy the wonderful gardens of Ainola designed by Aino herself; the parts/sections for the purpose of growing fruits and vegetables, and then a flower garden filled with magnificent colorful flowers in front of the house. Visitors are always amazed by the beauty of the garden and the flowers, and would happily buy the seeds from the museum cafeteria.

Sibelius loved spending time and walking in the forests next to their home, serving as an inspiration. He lived as a great musician in a simple house, but he had a profound relationship with the nature. Poetical enough to say that he turned nature into music.

Sibelius and his wife Aino are buried at Ainola and Sibelius left behind such a splendid music to live forever.