At the first graduation ceremony of the University of Finland on May 31, 1919, Mannerheim was awarded an honorary doctorate. Sibelius composed a new graduation march for the occasion. Faltin and Kroh’s cantata from 1890 was performed again.

Cantata for doctoral and master’s degree conferment ceremonies

30.6.1897 (A. W. Forsman) JS 106

Sibelius worked as a music teacher at the University of Helsinki in 1896–97. Richard Faltin, who had been a music teacher at the university for many years (1871–1896), appointed Sibelius as his substitute in 1896. Sibelius composed a total of three cantatas for the university in the 1890s.

1894:

Cantata for the doctoral and master’s degree conferment ceremony on May 30, 1894 (Kasimir Lönnbohm, later Leino) JS 105.

1896:

Cantata for a celebration of joy and happiness on November 2, 1894 (Paavo Cajander) JS 104. This is often referred to as the Coronation Cantata, as it was performed during the coronation of Tsar Nicholas II.

1897:

Cantata for the doctoral and master’s degree conferment ceremony on May 30, 1897 (August Waldemar Forsman, later Koskimies) JS 106.

Of these three cantatas, Promootiokantaatti 1897 is by far the most extensive, with 14 movements, and also the most artistically successful. The cantata was performed at least in Vyborg, Helsinki, and Tampere. After the Tampere concert, the orchestral material was lost. However, copies of the orchestral parts (now in the Sibelius Museum in Turku) survived for Trumpet I, French Horn I, Trombone, Triangle, and Snare Drum.

Instrumentation, etc.:

Promotional cantata, 1897: Soprano and baritone soloists, mixed choir, organ, and orchestra. Parallel piano score for soloists composed by the composer.

Re-edited in 1898?: “Songs for mixed choir [a cappella] from the 1897 promotional cantata, Op. 23.”

The solo parts were given the “role names” Kalevatar (soprano) and Wäinämöinen (baritone).

Arranged by the composer, version for soprano, tenor, mixed choir, and piano

(the piano part was completed by Kalevi Aho, parts I, III, V, V, XII, and XIV)

14 parts

Piano in each part	Sopr	Ten	Choir
I Me nuoriso Suomen (We, the Youth of Finland) – 3’11	x		x
II Veno kupliksi vesille (A Boat Bobbing in the Water) – 1’56	x	x
III Tää valon nuori vartiasto (These Young Guardians of Light) – 2’18	x	x	x
IV Soma on tieto siemeneksi (Sweet is the Knowledge that Bears Fruit) – 2’26	x	x	x
V Hei tointa tarmosaapa tarvitaan (Take Heed, Hard Work is Needed) – 2’02		x	x
VI Keto kirjava kesällä (The Verdant Field at Summer) – 2’25	x
VII Oi toivo, toivo, sä lietomieli (O Hope, Hope, You Dreamer) – 1’24	x	x
VIII Montapa elon merellä (Many on the Sea of Life) – 3’38	x	x	x
I Katso’ste kansa nuori (Look, Young People) – 3’40	x	x
Soi kiitokseksi Luojan (We Praise Thee, our Creator) – 5’42	x		x
I Yksin on elo iloton (Alone, Life is Cheerless) – 2’16	x	x
II Oi lempi, sun valtas’ ääretön on (O Love, Your Realm is Limitless) – 4’44	x	x	x
III Kun virta vuolas (As the Swift Current) – 2’45	x	x	x
IV Sitä kuusta kuuleminen (Listen to the Spruce Tree) – 4’54	x	x	x

The 1897 promotional cantata includes the first version of the hymn “Soi kiitokseksi Luojan” (We Praise Thee, Our Creator), originally the tenth part of the cantata.

The music is in the Kalevala Romantic style, although the text itself is not from the Kalevala. Lively and optimistic student marches form an important part (parts I, III, V, and XIII), alternating with more free-form music in the solo parts. The final chorus of the entire cantata is chorale-like, as is, of course, the best-known part X, “Soi kiitokseksi Luojan” (We Praise Thee, Our Creator).

7.4.2025

Folke Gräsbeck