The Oceanides by Johan Sibelius - Nidhi Menon
The Oceanides
The piece of music I have chosen to analyse is called “The Oceanides” by Johan Julius Christian Sibelius. Created between 1914-15, this is a single-movement poem that attempts to depict the Oceanides, Greek water nymphs dwelling in the kingdom of Poseidon, God of the sea. They were known to be playful beings with certain magical powers as well. This is an example of programmatic music, as the composer has already decided what the piece will depict and has shaped the music accordingly. This piece also describes the nature and strength of the ocean through its musical devices. Within 11 minutes and 15 seconds, Sibelius conveys various elements and aspects of the ocean as a force of nature, as well as of nature spirits that essentially represent all the qualities of nature itself.
The orchestra associated with this piece is quite beautiful, consisting of violins, cellos, trumpets, trombones, French horns, harps, oboes, orchestral percussion and more. Each of these instruments is used to create a particular mood or tone for a specific section of the piece. The constant tempo changes as well as the various combinations of instruments used provoke a range of imagery at different time points. The piece itself can be loosely split into different sections, though a definite cadence can only be observed at 2:07 and 3:27. Between 5:00 and the end of the piece, however, there are several transitions.
According to me, this piece can be interpreted as 24 hours over the ocean, including a storm that lasts all night. It can be from an underwater point of view while also describing the sky and the sun. The first two minutes are light and cheerful, seemingly portraying the sunrise. The ascending and descending sections of clarinet notes (00:52-1:03) remind me of the sun rays twinkling over the water’s surface. It also can sound like a school of fish darting around. This set of notes is repeated (1:40-1:45) to reinforce this imagery.
At 2:07, the tone of the song changes. There is a slightly darker undertone to it, which then persists in many sections for the rest of the piece. It is notable that the clarinets are the very instruments used to aid this change of tone, along with the cellos and double basses. They use slowly ascending low notes to depict an unsettling atmosphere. According to me, this sounds like the gathering of clouds and the darkening of the sky preceding a storm. From 5:00 to about 5:30, the violins play a progression of up-down notes with a lull in between 5:27 and 5:30 but precipitating in a sharp increase in intensity at 5:32, possibly indicating large waves forming and crashing in succession, the second wave bigger than the first, as indicated by the jump in intensity. The occasional orchestral percussion roll adds to the atmosphere of anxious anticipation.
An abrupt break at 6:54 introduces a new section and from 6:56 to 7:40, there is a length of almost exclusively arpeggios creating an up-down-up-down sequence. It could indicate the moments before the storm really breaks. The onset of a storm can include dark clouds, strong winds and a drop in temperature. This sounds like a prelude to the next part, which, in my opinion is the most intense section of the piece. From 8:42 to 9:08, the notes build up to a crescendo and then slowly begin to descend without losing intensity. The winds have begun to blow mercilessly, increasing the size of the waves and causing sweeping currents underwater. There is thunder and lightning adding to the ominousness. Low, sustained notes on the bass instruments are employed to better convey the mood. The listener is overwhelmed, almost able to feel the helplessness of being on a stormy ocean with no way out.
At 9:35, the storm seems to break with one final loud note. The music softens after this, and the final cadence is preceded by another loud note at 11:01. This could be the calm after the storm, where the winds have settled and the sky isn’t so black. The ocean is also recovering from the onslaught, the winds are slower and so is the music.
Taking the title of the piece into consideration, from a mythological perspective, one could interpret this slightly differently as well. The brighter sections may indicate the Oceanids playing among themselves and with the other inhabitants of the water kingdom, enjoying that space. Poseidon is considered the embodiment of the ocean, so the stormy sections might indicate his anger coursing through his kingdom and frightening its occupants. This fear is what we feel especially in the last sections of the piece, the uncertainty of a potentially dangerous force that cannot be controlled.
I really enjoyed listening to and analysing this piece, it allowed me to expand my musical horizons while appreciating an interpretation of my favourite force of nature.
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