Lionel Pike and the Sibelius 7th

Pike’s discussion of Sib 7th in Pike’s book on Beethoven and Sibelius is perfectly lucid, true, and also, however, one dimensional.  He concentrates on dissonance, resolution, and the establishment of tonality to the exclusion of equally dominant elements in the work, such as texture, foreshortening, rhythm and, especially, orchestration.  In the Sibelius 6th and 7th symphonies, as well as Tapiola, (Tapiola most of all) sonority itself is a potent integrational factor.  Of course, Pike is relating Sibelius to Beethoven, for whom sonority per se is not a potent integrational factor in the symphonies, although it certainly is in the late piano sonatas..I suppose this is really arguable.  The horns in Beethoven 7th, the oboe in the 3rd, etc.  The Pike book is great, and I appreciate the respect accorded to the Sib 6th, my personal favorite…