Overture in F Minor (JS 146)

The present edition, based on the composer's manuscripts held at the National Library in Helsinki, brings available for the first time the Overture in F minor in its original instrumentation.

Sibelius spoke of the happy summers he used to spend in the hospitable home of his aunt Eveliina in the little southern coastal town of Loviisa. A major portion of his early chamber works were composed in Loviisa during his boyhood and student days. Before the turn of the century, Loviisa was a popular resort, where summer guests took care of their health, bathing and hiking.

A brass band conducted by Christian Haupt gave concerts in the local park. Sibelius wrote three works for this brass band: Overture in F (JS146), Prelude (JS83) and the Andantino & Menuetto (JS45) during the 1889-91 period for various functions held in Loviisa. The Andan-tino movement was performed at the Tammi-saari Music Festival in 1891, where Sibelius was a member of a four-man jury.