Sibelius, Jean; Andante Festivo, brass quintet with (timpani), organ.
2 trumpets, horn, trombone, tuba, (timpani ad lib.), Organ
The "Andante Festivo" was written for string quartet in 1922 just before the Sixth Symphony. It was on December 28, 1922 listed as string quartet and on 1 January 1939 String Orchestra Finnish National Radio Orchestra Helsinki that Sibelius initiated. He performed it in the cast with string orchestra and timpani.
The performance from 1 January 1939, a performance in Helsinki for short-wave radio transmission at the World Exhibition in New York. This performance has been preserved on wax as poignant mementoes. It is also the last time that
Sibelius conducted and the only surviving recording.
The chorale-like melody is reminiscent of Dvorak's symphony "From the New World" (or is it "God Save the Queen"?) As to Sibelius, own later Seventh Symphony and a distinctive final "Amen".
