Sibelius

Today, 8th December, we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. Born Johan Julius Christian Sibelius in the town of Hämeenlinna around 30 miles north of the capital Helsinki he  adopted the name Jean that had been used by a seafaring uncle. His father, a medical doctor, died from typhoid before Sibelius reached two years of age, leaving the family insolvent and having to move into the home of his maternal grandmother.