Sibelius wasn't quite comfortable with the idea of Finlandia to be sung. »It's not meant to be sung. After all, it's written for an orchestra. But if the world wants to sing it, I can't help.« The markedly patriotic Finnish lyrics by Veikko Antero Koskenniemi were written in 1940 and first performed by Laulu-Miehet Male Voice Choir, conducted by Martti Turunen, on December 7th of the same year. After that, Finlandia has been recorded by a number of Finnish choirs, notably the YL Male Voice Choir (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YV0rgHhGn4).
Contrary to common belief, Finlandia is not the national anthem of Finland, although it could very well be. With different lyrics and titled »The Land of the Rising Sun«, it was, however, the national anthem of the short-lived African state of Biafra.
Sibelius wasn't quite comfortable with the idea of Finlandia to be sung. »It's not meant to be sung. After all, it's written for an orchestra. But if the world wants to sing it, I can't help.« The markedly patriotic Finnish lyrics by Veikko Antero Koskenniemi were written in 1940 and first performed by Laulu-Miehet Male Voice Choir, conducted by Martti Turunen, on December 7th of the same year. After that, Finlandia has been recorded by a number of Finnish choirs, notably the YL Male Voice Choir (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YV0rgHhGn4).
Contrary to common belief, Finlandia is not the national anthem of Finland, although it could very well be. With different lyrics and titled »The Land of the Rising Sun«, it was, however, the national anthem of the short-lived African state of Biafra.
Song of Peace by Mary Travers (https://lyricstranslate.com/en/mary-travers-song-peace-lyrics.html) is written to the music of Finlandia.