Passio Musicae, The Sibelius Memorial, Helsinki Finland by Ella Derbyshire

Nikon D80's

Jean (Johan Julius Christian) Sibelius is Finland's greatest musical composer. His works include 7 symphonies and a large volume of popular pieces. His music portrays the natural beauty of Finland's landscapes and Finland's mythology. His most famous composition is Finlandia which was written in support of the nation's efforts to maintain independence from Russia.

It is said that his music helped to define Finland's national identity, and during Sibelius' lifetime Finland did indeed achieve autonomy as it declared its independence from Russia in 1917.

Sibelius is commemorated in Sibelius Park in Helsinki with this unusual metal monument. The Sibelius Society awarded the commission for this project to Eila Hiltunen who was one of 50 sculptors who applied. The acceptance of her proposal and then 4 years of the artist's creative time resulted in this remarkable interactive tribute to Sibelius.

Unveiled in 1957, Passio Musicae measures 10.5 x 6.5 x 8.5 meters. It is made of 600 acid-resistant steel pipes of various size and texture. They are welded into a form that invites exploration, so please, explore.