Six Humoresques

{{Infobox musical composition

| name = Six Humoresques

| type = Concertante pieces

| composer = {{nowrap|Jean Sibelius}}

| image = Sibelius.gif

| image_upright = .9

| caption = The composer ({{c.|1918}})

| border = Yes

| opus = {{nowrap|87 & 89}}

| composed = {{start date|1917}}–1918; No. 1 {{abbr|rev.|revised}} 1940

| publisher = Hansen (1922–1923, Nos. 2–6; 1942, No. 1){{sfn|Dahlström|2003|pp=377, 384–386}}

| duration = 22.5 mins.{{sfn|Dahlström|2003|pp=376–377, 384–386}}

| premiere_date = {{start date|1919|11|24|df=y}}{{sfn|Dahlström|2003|pp=356, 376–377, 384–386}}

| premiere_location = Helsinki, Finland

| premiere_conductor = Jean Sibelius

| premiere_performers = {{unbulleted list|Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra|Paul Cherkassky (violin)}}

}}

The Six Humoresques, Opp. 87 and 89,{{efn|The four Op. 89 humoresques are typically designated with the letters a–d. However, this article follows the Urtext Edition (2016) of the Six Humoresques, which utilizes the numbers 1–4.{{sfn|Eskola|2016|pp=ii, xii}} Thus, for example, the Humoresque No. 3 in G minor, Op. 89/a, becomes Op. 89/1.}} are concertante compositions for violin and orchestra written from 1917 to 1918 by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. Despite spanning two opus numbers (due to publishing technicalities), the composer—who originally considered calling the humoresques impromptus or lyrical dances—intended them as a suite. They are the:

Humoresque No. 1 in D minor, Op. 87/1. Commodo
Humoresque No. 2 in D major, Op. 87/2. Allegro assai
Humoresque No. 3 in G minor, Op. 89/1. Alla gavotta
Humoresque No. 4 in G minor, Op. 89/2. Andantino
Humoresque No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 89/3. Commodo
Humoresque No. 6 in G minor, Op. 89/4. Allegro

The Six Humoresques premiered on 24 November 1919 in Helsinki, with Sibelius conducting the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra; the soloist was the Russian-Finnish-American violinist Paul Cherkassky.{{sfn|Eskola|2016|pp=xii}} Also on the program was the definitive version of the Symphony No. 5 in E-flat major (Op. 82), as well as Song of the Earth (Op. 93), a cantata for mixed choir.{{sfn|Tawaststjerna|2008|p=162}}{{sfn|Barnett|2007|p=284}}

In the autumn of 1940, Sibelius revised No. 1's instrumentation (most notably, he eliminated the harp part); the original, while promised to Wilhelm Hansen in February 1917, was never published. The violinist {{interlanguage link|Arvo Hannikainen|fi|Arvo Hannikainen}} premiered the revised No. 1 on 15 December 1940, with Toivo Haapanen conducting the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra.{{sfn|Eskola|2016|pp=xii}} Hansen, who had published the other five humoresques in 1923, completed the set in 1942.{{sfn|Eskola|2016|pp=xii}} The 1917 version is extant.{{sfn|Barnett|2007|p=284}}

Instrumentation

The Humoresque No. 1 is scored for the following instruments:{{sfn|Eskola|2016|pp=xii}}

Soloist: violin
Woodwinds: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets (in B{{music|flat}}), and 2 bassoons
Brass: 2 horns (in F)
Percussion: timpani
Strings: violins, violas, cellos, and double basses

The Humoresque No. 2 has identical scoring, except for the omission of the entire woodwind section.{{sfn|Eskola|2016|pp=xii}} The Op. 89 pieces are even more delicately scored. In addition to the soloist, Humoresques Nos. 3 and 4 utilize strings only.{{sfn|Eskola|2016|pp=xii}} No. 5 adds to this scoring three woodwinds: 2 flutes, 2 clarinets (in B{{music|flat}}), and 2 bassoons, while No. 6 omits the clarinets but retains the flutes and bassoons.{{sfn|Eskola|2016|pp=xii}}

Recordings

The sortable table below lists commercially available recordings of the {{em|complete}} Six Humoresques:

class="wikitable sortable" style="margin-right:0; font-size:95%" !scope="col"\|{{abbr\|No.\|Chronological number}} !scope="col"\|Conductor !scope="col"\|Orchestra !scope="col"\|Soloist !scope="col"\|{{nowrap\|{{abbr\|Rec.\|Year of recording}}{{efn\|Refers to the year in which the performers recorded the work; this may not be the same as the year in which the recording was first released to the general public.}}}} !scope="col"\|Time !scope="col"\|Recording venue !scope="col"\|Label !scope="col"class="unsortable"\|{{abbr\|Ref.\|References}}
scope="row"\|1 \|{{sort\|Szöke\|Tibor Szöke}} \|Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra \|{{sort\|Rosand\|Aaron Rosand}} \|{{sort\|1957\|{{c.\|1957}}}} \|17:10 \|[{{em\|Unknown}}] \|Vox \|{{center\|{{efn\|[https://www.discogs.com/release/20804884-Sarasate-Tchaikovsky-Sibelius-Aaron-Rosand-Violnist-Südwestfunk-Orchester-Baden-Baden-Tibor-Szöke- T. Szöke–Vox (PL 11.600) 1959]}}}}
scope="row"\|2 \|{{sort\|Berglund\|Paavo Berglund}} \|Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra (1) \|{{sort\|Haitto\|Heimo Haitto}} \|1964 \|20:47 \|YLE \|[https://fmq.fi/articles/the-story-of-finlandia-classics Finlandia Classics] \|{{center\|{{efn\|[https://www.discogs.com/release/8146234-Heimo-Haitto-Finnish-Radio-Symphony-Orchestra-Paavo-Berglund-Heimo-Haitto-Plays-Sibelius P. Berglund–Finlandia (FINCLA 2) 2013]}}}}
scope="row"\|3 \|{{sort\|Davis\|Sir Colin Davis}} \|London Symphony Orchestra \|{{sort\|Accardo\|Salvatore Accardo}} \|1979 \|20:27 \|All Saints' Church, Tooting \|Decca \|{{center\|{{efn\|[http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2016/Nov/Sibelius_VC_4825097.htm C. Davis–Decca (Eloquence 482 5097) 2016]}}}}
scope="row"\|4 \|{{sort\|Dutoit\|Charles Dutoit}} \|Philharmonia Orchestra \|{{sort\|Amoyal\|Pierre Amoyal}} \|1979 \|20:43 \|EMI Recording Studios \|Erato \|{{center\|{{efn\|[https://aucfree.com/items/o392395173 C. Dutoit–Erato (0630–12746–2) 1995]}}}}
scope="row"\|5 \|{{sort\|Handley\|Vernon Handley}} \|Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin \|{{sort\|Holmes\|Ralph Holmes}} \|1980 \|20:18 \|Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin \|Schwann, Koch \|{{center\|{{efn\|1=[https://www.gzhifi.com/cd/goods.php?id=5740 V. Handley–Koch-Schwann ({{nowrap\|CD 311 003 F1}}) 1988]}}}}
scope="row"\|6 \|{{sort\|Lamminmäki\|{{interlanguage link\|Juhani Lamminmäki\|fi\|Juhani Lamminmäki}}}} \|Tapiola Sinfonietta (1) \|{{sort\|Kavakos\|Leonidas Kavakos}} \|1989 \|21:53 \|Tapiola Hall, Espoo Cultural Centre \|Finlandia \|{{center\|{{efn\|[https://www.discogs.com/release/21642229-Jean-Sibelius-Leonidas-Kavakos-City-Of-Espoo-Chamber-Orchestra-Juhani-Lamminmäki-Six-Humoresques-Fo J. Lamminmäki–Finlandia (4509–95859–2) 1991]}}}}
scope="row"\|7 \|{{sort\|Järvi\|Neeme Järvi}} \|Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra \|{{sort\|Kang\|Dong-Suk Kang}} \|1989 \|20:17 \|Gothenburg Concert Hall \|BIS \|{{center\|{{efn\|[https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/BI%200472 N. Järvi–BIS (CD–472) 1990]}}}}
scope="row"\|8 \|{{sort\|Saraste\|Jukka-Pekka Saraste}} \|Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra (2) \|{{sort\|Swensen\|Joseph Swensen}} \|1990 \|20:53 \|Kulttuuritalo \|RCA Red Seal \|{{center\|{{efn\|[https://www.discogs.com/release/22482101-Jukka-Pekka-Saraste-Jean-Sibelius-Finnish-Radio-Symphony-Orchestra-Conducts-Sibelius J. Saraste–RCA Red Seal (19439704812 (8)) 2020]}}}}
scope="row"\|9 \|{{sort\|Dausgaard\|Thomas Dausgaard}} \|Danish National Symphony Orchestra \|{{sort\|Tetzlaff\|Christian Tetzlaff}} \|2002 \|18:41 \|Danish Radio Concert Hall (old) \|Virgin Classics \|{{center\|{{efn\|[http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2003/mar03/Sibelius_ViolinCon_works.htm T. Dausgaard–Virgin Classics ({{nowrap\|7243 5 45534 2 4}}) 2002]}}}}
scope="row"\|10 \|{{sort\|Koivula\|{{interlanguage link\|Hannu Koivula\|fi\|Hannu_Koivula}}}} \|Västerås Sinfonietta \|{{sort\|Zilliacus\|{{interlanguage link\|Cecilia Zilliacus\|sv\|Cecilia_Zilliacus}}}} \|2004 \|22:06 \|{{interlanguage link\|Västerås Konserthus\|sv\|Västerås_konserthus}} \|{{interlanguage link\|Intim Musik\|sv\|Intim_Musik}} \|{{center\|{{efn\|[https://www.discogs.com/release/9251359-Cecilia-Zilliacus-V%C3%A4ster%C3%A5s-Sinfonietta-Hannu-Koivula-Sibelius-Stenhammar-Nielsen-Svendsen-Nelson C. Zilliacus - Intim Musik ({{nowrap\|IMCD 093}}) 2004]}}}}
scope="row"\|11 \|{{sort\|Kuusisto\|Pekka Kuusisto}} \|Tapiola Sinfonietta (2) \|{{sort\|Kuusisto\|Pekka Kuusisto}} \|2006 \|20:50 \|Tapiola Hall, Espoo Cultural Centre \|Ondine \|{{center\|{{efn\|[https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/OD%201074 P. Kuusisto–Ondine (ODE 1074–5) 2006]}}}}
scope="row"\|12 \|{{sort\|Engeset\|Bjarte Engeset}} \|{{interlanguage link\|Dala Sinfonietta\|sv\|Dalasinfoniettan}} \|{{sort\|Kraggerud\|Henning Kraggerud}} \|2011 \|19:54 \|Kristinehallen, Falun \|Naxos \|{{center\|{{efn\|[https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/NX%202827 B. Engeset–Naxos (8.572827) 2012]}}}}
scope="row"\|13 \|{{sort\|Garrido\|Alejandro Garrido Porras}} \|Orquestra Vigo 430 \|{{sort\|Dautricourt\|Nicolas Dautricourt}} \|2014 \|22:43 \|Martín Códax Auditorium, Vigo Conservatory of Music \|{{interlanguage link\|La Dolce Volta\|fr\|La Dolce Volta}} \|{{center\|{{efn\|[https://musicbrainz.org/release/3dc10710-cbb2-4b4e-aff7-bb7e0ef6c226 A. Garrido Porras–La Dolce Volta (LDV 23) 2015]}}}}
scope="row"\|14 \|{{sort\|Carewe\|John Carewe}} \|Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra \|{{sort\|Christodoulou\|Efi Christodoulou}} \|2014 \|20:37 \|Lighthouse, Poole \|Somm \|{{center\|{{efn\|[https://d2me0q24x7p585.cloudfront.net/748871015326.pdf J. Carewe–Somm (SOMMCD 0153) 2015]}}}}
scope="row"\|15 \|{{sort\|Vass\|George Vass}} \|BBC National Orchestra of Wales \|{{sort\|Humphreys\|Fenella Humphreys}} \|2020 \|20:48 \|BBC Hoddinott Hall \|Resonus Classics \|{{center\|{{efn\|[https://musicbrainz.org/release/34ee5e3d-3b01-474e-ba00-2de21a37ffd0 G. Vass–Resonus (RES10277) 2021]}}}}
scope="row"\|16 \|{{sort\|Gardner\|Sir Edward Gardner}} \|Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra \|{{sort\|Ehnes\|James Ehnes}} \|2023 \| \|Grieg Hall \|Chandos \|{{center\|{{efn\|[https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%205267 E. Gardner–Chandos (CHAN 5267) 2024]}}}}

class="wikitable sortable" style="margin-right:0; font-size:95%"

!scope="col"|{{abbr|No.|Chronological number}}

!scope="col"|Conductor

!scope="col"|Orchestra

!scope="col"|Soloist

!scope="col"|{{nowrap|{{abbr|Rec.|Year of recording}}{{efn|Refers to the year in which the performers recorded the work; this may not be the same as the year in which the recording was first released to the general public.}}}}

!scope="col"|Time

!scope="col"|Recording venue

!scope="col"|Label

!scope="col"class="unsortable"|{{abbr|Ref.|References}}

scope="row"|1

|{{sort|Szöke|Tibor Szöke}}

|Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra

|{{sort|Rosand|Aaron Rosand}}

|{{sort|1957|{{c.|1957}}}}

|17:10

|[{{em|Unknown}}]

|Vox

|{{center|{{efn|[https://www.discogs.com/release/20804884-Sarasate-Tchaikovsky-Sibelius-Aaron-Rosand-Violnist-Südwestfunk-Orchester-Baden-Baden-Tibor-Szöke- T. Szöke–Vox (PL 11.600) 1959]}}}}

scope="row"|2

|{{sort|Berglund|Paavo Berglund}}

|Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra (1)

|{{sort|Haitto|Heimo Haitto}}

|1964

|20:47

|YLE

|[https://fmq.fi/articles/the-story-of-finlandia-classics Finlandia Classics]

|{{center|{{efn|[https://www.discogs.com/release/8146234-Heimo-Haitto-Finnish-Radio-Symphony-Orchestra-Paavo-Berglund-Heimo-Haitto-Plays-Sibelius P. Berglund–Finlandia (FINCLA 2) 2013]}}}}

scope="row"|3

|{{sort|Davis|Sir Colin Davis}}

|London Symphony Orchestra

|{{sort|Accardo|Salvatore Accardo}}

|1979

|20:27

|All Saints' Church, Tooting

|Decca

|{{center|{{efn|[http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2016/Nov/Sibelius_VC_4825097.htm C. Davis–Decca (Eloquence 482 5097) 2016]}}}}

scope="row"|4

|{{sort|Dutoit|Charles Dutoit}}

|Philharmonia Orchestra

|{{sort|Amoyal|Pierre Amoyal}}

|1979

|20:43

|EMI Recording Studios

|Erato

|{{center|{{efn|[https://aucfree.com/items/o392395173 C. Dutoit–Erato (0630–12746–2) 1995]}}}}

scope="row"|5

|{{sort|Handley|Vernon Handley}}

|Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin

|{{sort|Holmes|Ralph Holmes}}

|1980

|20:18

|Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin

|Schwann, Koch

|{{center|{{efn|1=[https://www.gzhifi.com/cd/goods.php?id=5740 V. Handley–Koch-Schwann ({{nowrap|CD 311 003 F1}}) 1988]}}}}

scope="row"|6

|{{sort|Lamminmäki|{{interlanguage link|Juhani Lamminmäki|fi|Juhani Lamminmäki}}}}

|Tapiola Sinfonietta (1)

|{{sort|Kavakos|Leonidas Kavakos}}

|1989

|21:53

|Tapiola Hall, Espoo Cultural Centre

|Finlandia

|{{center|{{efn|[https://www.discogs.com/release/21642229-Jean-Sibelius-Leonidas-Kavakos-City-Of-Espoo-Chamber-Orchestra-Juhani-Lamminmäki-Six-Humoresques-Fo J. Lamminmäki–Finlandia (4509–95859–2) 1991]}}}}

scope="row"|7

|{{sort|Järvi|Neeme Järvi}}

|Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra

|{{sort|Kang|Dong-Suk Kang}}

|1989

|20:17

|Gothenburg Concert Hall

|BIS

|{{center|{{efn|[https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/BI%200472 N. Järvi–BIS (CD–472) 1990]}}}}

scope="row"|8

|{{sort|Saraste|Jukka-Pekka Saraste}}

|Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra (2)

|{{sort|Swensen|Joseph Swensen}}

|1990

|20:53

|Kulttuuritalo

|RCA Red Seal

|{{center|{{efn|[https://www.discogs.com/release/22482101-Jukka-Pekka-Saraste-Jean-Sibelius-Finnish-Radio-Symphony-Orchestra-Conducts-Sibelius J. Saraste–RCA Red Seal (19439704812 (8)) 2020]}}}}

scope="row"|9

|{{sort|Dausgaard|Thomas Dausgaard}}

|Danish National Symphony Orchestra

|{{sort|Tetzlaff|Christian Tetzlaff}}

|2002

|18:41

|Danish Radio Concert Hall (old)

|Virgin Classics

|{{center|{{efn|[http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2003/mar03/Sibelius_ViolinCon_works.htm T. Dausgaard–Virgin Classics ({{nowrap|7243 5 45534 2 4}}) 2002]}}}}

scope="row"|10

|{{sort|Koivula|{{interlanguage link|Hannu Koivula|fi|Hannu_Koivula}}}}

|Västerås Sinfonietta

|{{sort|Zilliacus|{{interlanguage link|Cecilia Zilliacus|sv|Cecilia_Zilliacus}}}}

|2004

|22:06

|{{interlanguage link|Västerås Konserthus|sv|Västerås_konserthus}}

|{{interlanguage link|Intim Musik|sv|Intim_Musik}}

|{{center|{{efn|[https://www.discogs.com/release/9251359-Cecilia-Zilliacus-V%C3%A4ster%C3%A5s-Sinfonietta-Hannu-Koivula-Sibelius-Stenhammar-Nielsen-Svendsen-Nelson C. Zilliacus - Intim Musik ({{nowrap|IMCD 093}}) 2004]}}}}

scope="row"|11

|{{sort|Kuusisto|Pekka Kuusisto}}

|Tapiola Sinfonietta (2)

|{{sort|Kuusisto|Pekka Kuusisto}}

|2006

|20:50

|Tapiola Hall, Espoo Cultural Centre

|Ondine

|{{center|{{efn|[https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/OD%201074 P. Kuusisto–Ondine (ODE 1074–5) 2006]}}}}

scope="row"|12

|{{sort|Engeset|Bjarte Engeset}}

|{{interlanguage link|Dala Sinfonietta|sv|Dalasinfoniettan}}

|{{sort|Kraggerud|Henning Kraggerud}}

|2011

|19:54

|Kristinehallen, Falun

|Naxos

|{{center|{{efn|[https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/NX%202827 B. Engeset–Naxos (8.572827) 2012]}}}}

scope="row"|13

|{{sort|Garrido|Alejandro Garrido Porras}}

|Orquestra Vigo 430

|{{sort|Dautricourt|Nicolas Dautricourt}}

|2014

|22:43

|Martín Códax Auditorium, Vigo Conservatory of Music

|{{interlanguage link|La Dolce Volta|fr|La Dolce Volta}}

|{{center|{{efn|[https://musicbrainz.org/release/3dc10710-cbb2-4b4e-aff7-bb7e0ef6c226 A. Garrido Porras–La Dolce Volta (LDV 23) 2015]}}}}

scope="row"|14

|{{sort|Carewe|John Carewe}}

|Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

|{{sort|Christodoulou|Efi Christodoulou}}

|2014

|20:37

|Lighthouse, Poole

|Somm

|{{center|{{efn|[https://d2me0q24x7p585.cloudfront.net/748871015326.pdf J. Carewe–Somm (SOMMCD 0153) 2015]}}}}

scope="row"|15

|{{sort|Vass|George Vass}}

|BBC National Orchestra of Wales

|{{sort|Humphreys|Fenella Humphreys}}

|2020

|20:48

|BBC Hoddinott Hall

|Resonus Classics

|{{center|{{efn|[https://musicbrainz.org/release/34ee5e3d-3b01-474e-ba00-2de21a37ffd0 G. Vass–Resonus (RES10277) 2021]}}}}

scope="row"|16

|{{sort|Gardner|Sir Edward Gardner}}

|Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra

|{{sort|Ehnes|James Ehnes}}

|2023

|Grieg Hall

|Chandos

|{{center|{{efn|[https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%205267 E. Gardner–Chandos (CHAN 5267) 2024]}}}}

Notes, references, and sources

;{{large|Notes}}

;{{large|References}}

;{{large|Sources}}

{{cite book|last1=Barnett|first1=Andrew|year=2007|title=Sibelius|location=New Haven|publisher=Yale University Press|isbn=978-0-300-11159-0}}
{{cite book|last=Dahlström|first=Fabian|author-link=:sv:Fabian Dahlström|title=Jean Sibelius: Thematisch-bibliographisches Verzeichnis seiner Werke|trans-title=Jean Sibelius: A Thematic Bibliographic Index of His Works|date=2003|publisher=Breitkopf & Härtel|location=Wiesbaden|language=de|isbn=3-7651-0333-0}}
{{cite book|last1=Eskola|first1=Jari|year=2016|title=Jean Sibelius: Six Humoresques for Violin and Orchestra, {{nowrap|Opp. 87 & 89}}|edition=Urtext|location=Painojussit, Kerava|publisher=Fennica Gehrman|translator1=Jaako|translator2=Mäntyjärvi|ismn=979-0-55011-261-2}}
{{cite book|first=Erik|last=Tawaststjerna|author-link=Erik W. Tawaststjerna|title=Sibelius: Volume III, 1914–1957|date=2008|orig-date=1978/1988; {{abbr|trans.|translation}} 1997|translator-first=Robert|translator-last=Layton|location=London|publisher=Faber and Faber|isbn=978-0-571-24774-5}}

Category:Concertante works by Jean Sibelius

Category:1917 compositions

Category:1918 compositions

Category:Compositions for violin and orchestra

Category:Compositions for string orchestra

Category:Compositions in D major

Category:Compositions in D minor

Category:Compositions in E-flat major

Category:Compositions in G minor