Of all her composers, Jan Sibelius is the greatest (1865). He was educated as a lawyer but being a violinist, he decided to pursue a musical career. He is remarkable as a writer of symphonic poems, and sings with compelling beauty the legends of his country taken from _The Kalevala_, the epic poem which ranks with the greatest legendary poems of all times. Besides _The Kalevala_ are the short lyrics or Kanteletar, sung to the lute of steel strings, which is called _The Kantele_. These legends and songs are always a source of great joy to the Finns and were first arranged by Elias Lönnrot in the early part of the 19th century. The symphonic poems of Sibelius are _Karelia_, _The Swan of Tuonela_ and _Lemminkäinen_ from _The Kalevala_. He wrote other compositions, of course, including cantatas and ballads and string quartets and choruses. His _Finlandia_ is a true picture of the Finnish people and country, and his _Fourth Symphony_ is one of the 20th century’s monumental works. It is interesting to note in his Finnish songs a peculiar five-four rhythm which is haunting and fascinating. He was recognized as a great musician, for he is the only one of this time who drew a government pension. In 1914, Sibelius was in America for the Norfolk Festival for which he had written a special work, a symphonic poem, _Aalottaret_ (Daughter of the Ocean). At the same time Yale University conferred a degree upon him. He lives far north in Finland away from cities, surrounded for many months of the year by great snow fields. Selim Palmgren is a writer of charming piano pieces who, in 1924, was teacher at the Eastman Conservatory in Rochester, New York. Other composers in Finland were Bernard Crusell (1775–1838), and Frederick Pacius (who was born in Hamburg in 1809 and died in Helsingfors in 1891), the Father of Finnish Music and the author of the National Hymn _Wartland_ and _Suomis Song_ (Suomi means Finland). He was a violinist, a follower of Spohr and composed a great many musical works. Among others is Armas Järnefelt (1864), an orchestral conductor and composer living in Stockholm. SPAIN—THE LAND OF THE FANDANGO One of the most adventurous and likeable people that we have met in the history of music is Isaac Albeniz (1860–1909). He was born in Spain and started his travels when he was a few days old. He ran away from home when he was nine years old and toured about, making money by playing the piano. He loved travel and his life as a young man is a series of runnings-away-and-being-brought-back. He became a very great pianist and Alphonso XII was so pleased with his playing and so delighted with his personality, that at fifteen he was granted a pension and being free from money worry, he realized the dream of his life and went to see Franz Liszt. He became a player approaching Von Bülow and Rubinstein in skill.