INCIDENTAL MUSIC for strings by JEAN SIBELIUS, 1903. The work was composed as part of the play Kuolema (Death) by Sibelius's brother-in-law, Arvid Järnefelt, produced in Helsinki.

Next to FINLANDIA, this is Sibelius's most popular work. It is lyric and full of natural grace, yet there are interesting harmonic progressions not often found in traditional waltz movements. Sibelius later rescored the work for chamber orchestra and conducted its first performance in Helsinki in 1904.