Jean Sibelius

Jean Sibelius (December 8, 1865 – September 20, 1957) was a Finnish composer of classical music; he also studied the violin as a young man. Together with the work of Johan Ludvig Runeberg, Sibelius's music is synonymous with Fin

Jean Sibelius (December 8, 1865 – September 20, 1957) was a Finnish composer of classical music; he also studied the violin as a young man. Together with the work of Johan Ludvig Runeberg, Sibelius's music is synonymous with Finnish national identity.

Sibelius was born into a Swedish-speaking family in Hämeenlinna in the Russian Grand Duchy of Finland. He was given the names Johan Julius Christian Sibelius, but from an early age he adopted the name of his French uncle Jean. His family consciously decided to send Jean to an important Finnish language school. "Janne" as he was called, attended The Hämeenlinna Normal-lycée the years 1876-1885. This should be seen as part of the larger rise of the Fennoman movement, an expression of Romantic Nationalism which was to become a crucial part of Sibelius' artistic output and politics.