The Sibelius Monument: An Unsung Symphony
I was surprised by the large crowds when I initially arrived at the Sibelius Monument in Helsinki. Intrigued, I entered the tranquil park, which is more of a forest. There I noticed the enormous musical note suspended in mid-air. At least, it appears to be that way, at first glance. On my left, as I got closer to the monument, I noticed a group of people practising Yoga. A sculpture of Jean Sibelius, scilicet only his face, was on my right, and in front of me was this nifty replica of a musical organ. The energy was tremendous. It’s no surprise that hundreds of people visit this iconic landmark in Helsinki every day.
The Sibelius Monument, perched amid tall trees, is a silver-coloured archetypal, a melodic wave that mirrors the breathtaking scenery surrounding it. The monument is made of over 600 silver pipes concatenated to form an instrument. Even yet, the live music performance by a Finnish artist usually complemented my visit. The music of the harmonium lingered in the background for as long as I was at the Sibelius Monument. His music eventually drew me away, and I ended up spending thirty minutes listening to every part of the piece.
The Sibelius Monument represents the changing of the seasons, reverberates with chirping noises, ocean air, and organ music. As a result, this is the ideal place to practise Yoga in Helsinki. Jean Sibelius, for those who are unfamiliar, is a well-known Finnish composer and violinist from the early modern era. He is, however, more well-liked since he was instrumental in helping Helsinki define its identity during the war for independence.
Jean Sibelius is highly regarded in Finland. Finns demonstrated this by putting his portrait on the coins until 2002. Euro eventually replaced the Finnish currency. The concept of the Sibelius Monument was proposed to the heads of state by Eila Hiltunen, its creator, and the project was immediately approved. The thought of building a monument in memory of Sibelius enthralled the Finnish government. Eila Hiltunen curated the Sibelius Monument in 1967. She hand-finished it by assembling 600 hollow stainless steel pipes. Given that this monument weighs 24 tonnes, I’m assuming it must have taken a lot of time and effort.
Eila Hiltunen imbued 14 components into this melodic monument that pays eulogy to Sibelius by its sheer form. Every monument, as they say, has a tale to tell. In this case, it’s a fitting homage to a guy who not only composed world-class music but also stage-managed seven orchestras. After Hiltunen addressed the critics, the facial sculpture was added, afterwards. This one inclusion resulted in instantaneous national approval. The monument, in my opinion, is a stunning work of art. It’s a quintessential tribute!
Finland also commemorates the national flag day on December 8th, which happens to be Sibelius’ birthday. On this day, many events are planned for the Finns to compete in. Finland commemorated the 150th anniversary of Sibelius’ birth in 2015. So, if you’re planning a trip to Helsinki anytime soon, don’t forget to pay a visit to this historic monument. Opening hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and there is no admission fee.
