Description

‘Nocturne’ Op.51 No.3 (1907) – Jean SIBELIUS

arranged for Solo Cello (or violin) and String Orchestra by David Johnstone

PDF 1 – General Score

PDF 2 – Cello Soloist Part

PDF 3 – String Orchestral Parts

In the option of violin soloist, this solo part is readily available on internet…

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Notes:

Belshazzar’s Feast of Jean Sibelius, is the incidental music by to a play of the same name by the journalist, poet and playwright Hjalmar Fredrik Eugen Procopé (1868−1927). Sibelius composed eight orchestral movements, with singers also being required in some numbers. The first performance of the play and its incidental music was at the Swedish Theatre in Helsinki on 7th November 1906, conducted by the composer. It had 21 performances through to January 1907.

Then, in 1907 Sibelius extracted a purely orchestral suite of four numbers, which is now much better known than the original score. The suite has the opus number 51. This had its first performance in Helsinki on 25th September 1907, in the same concert as the premiere of the Third Symphony, conducted by the composer. He also made a piano arrangement of the suite in 1907. The third movement – Nocturne – also became well-known as a violin solo accompanied by piano (arrangement by Michael Press). This version has been the base for David Johnstone for his accompaniment of string orchestra – in which case, the soloist may be either cello or violin.

The arrangement is dedicated to the very fine Scandinavian musician Peter Schoening.