1. FINLANDIA Composed by Jean Sibelius in 1899
Finlandia is one of the new BBC 10 Pieces.
Check out the BBC website for more ideas and resources.
Sibelius became a national hero and his music Finlandia became an unofficial National Anthem.
Find out about Finland’s landscape and wildlife:  
Sibelius uses music to evoke the feeling of his native Finland

2. Listening and Responding
Find out about the music of Finlandia
Watch the ‘Exciting Introduction to Finlandia’ on the BBC 10 Pieces website
a-by-jean-sibelius
You can also watch the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic perform Finlandia, conducted by Vasily Petrenko
Find out about Finland’s landscape
You may like to look at the images of Finland on this YouTube video

3. Music & Creative Development Moods and Emotions
Really Listen! What instruments can you hear?
Divide the class into 4 groups: 
Brass
Woodwind
Strings
Percussion
You will need to listen very carefully as Finlandia is playing. Raise your hand when you hear your orchestral section.

4. Moods and Feelings
Listen to the opening of Finlandia, played on the brass and timpani (approx. 0:00 – 0:55)
What mood does it create? If you were painting a picture, what colours would you use? Why?
Now listen to the next section featuring the woodwind, followed by the strings (approx.. 0:55 – 1:42)
What mood and feeling does this create? What colours would you use?
The two sections sound very different as they create different moods.
Which colours you might use to show a happy and bright mood in a painting?
What about if you are really angry? Sad? Excited? Calm?

5. Think about one of your favourite places?
Sibelius was inspired by the landscape of his native Finland, a country he loved.
Think about one of your favourite places?
Where is it?
What does it look like?
How do you feel when you are there?
Which colours would you use in a painting to show your different feelings and emotions?
Which instruments and sounds would you use for your musical colours?