Jean Julius Christian Sibelius (1865-1957) was one of the leading post-romantic composers and Finland's greatest musician. His music is both nationalistic and universal and is most effective in conveying mood or atmosphere.

Jean Sibelius--he adopted the French form of his first name as a student--was born on Dec. 8, 1865, in the garrison town of Hämeenlinna, where his father was a military doctor. The family was a musical one, and Sibelius learned the rudiments very early. Destined for the law, he found the attractions of music so strong that he overcame family opposition and began formal conservatory training by 1886. His goal was to become a violin virtuoso--a dream which later found possible sublimation in the only concerto he composed, that for violin (1903), plus some shorter solo pieces.

As the star pupil of the conservatory's founder, Sibelius found his path directed increasingly toward composition. He studied in Berlin, Leipzig...