My Music, My Drinking & Me

Book excerpt: This book truly brings the Sibelius story to life and offers a new and fascinating insight into his development both as a composer and as a man - a must-have book for all those who appreciate Sibelius's music, whether they are musicians, students or other music lovers, or for those who love historical novels. Based on true events and told from Sibelius's own point of view, My Music, My Drinking & Me - The Memoirs of Jean Sibelius is the story of Finland's greatest composer, one of the foremost symphonists of the 20th century. It is a turbulent and violent period in European history, and Finland is struggling to gain and maintain its independence. Sibelius is expected by many to be a spokesman for his country. However, he is uncomfortable with the position thrust upon him; he has no desire to make political statements through his music, wanting only to depict the elemental forces of Finnish nature. On a more personal level, he is battling with alcoholism; he believes that he needs alcohol to be able to write music, but does his drinking foster or hinder his creativity? Furthermore, if he does not give up drinking, it will cost him his marriage. Which is the stronger - his need to drink or his desire to save his marriage before it is too late? My Music, My Drinking & Me is as much about a marriage as about music. In it, Caroline J Sinclair has drawn a vivid picture of Sibelius's family life, and of the country that inspired him to compose - his beloved Finland.