Lemminkainen Suite (Four Legends of the Kalevala), Op. 22, No. 4: Lemminkainen's Return

LEMMINK?INEN'S RETURN (Lemmink?inen Suite, Op. 22, No. 4) by Jean Sibelius (1865–1957) was composed in 1895, with revisions in 1897 and 1900, as part of the four-legend cycle drawn from the Finnish epic Kalevala. The movement depicts the final joyous homecoming of the hero Lemmink?inen after his harrowing adventures and resurrection — a triumphant, galloping rondo that resolves in a blaze of celebratory orchestral colour, symbolizing renewal and return. Although the full suite's first complete publication came only in 1901 (with a later collected edition in 1954) the movement has long been valued for its energy and optimism. Today, LEMMINK?INEN'S RETURN remains a favorite as a concert-finale piece or an encore — admired for its driving rhythms, bright orchestration, and its ability to close a program with exhilarating momentum. Instrumentation: 0+2(Picc).2.2.2: 4.3.3.1: Timp.Perc(2-3): Str (9.8.7.6.5 in set). Reprint edition.