With the newly retired David Beckingham stepping up his tabbing, I’ve decided to make Mondays officially Beckingham Tab Day. And the inaugural post is his version of Sibelius’s Karelia Suite.
I must admit to being entirely ignorant of this piece before David’s video. But according to Wikipedia Sibelius intended it, “to capture the quality of “naive,” folk-based authenticity,” which I’d say makes it ripe for a ukeing.
Sweeeeeet….. and challenging! Thank you, Al and David! I love the back story.
In the UK it was used as the theme to This Week: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fai3186jPfc
Dave: Just one more reason to be born in New Zealand!
Cheryl: Glad you like it!
Jeanette: Thanks for the info.
Nice! As a Finn I certainly must give this one a go even it seems a bit out of my league. Also from a Finn point of view I must ask why is Sweden tagged to this one?
Sampo: Because I’m an idiot! Thanks for the correction.
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The tune is very familiar to Kiwis of a certain age – it featured in a very popular documentary movie from the early 70’s called “This Is New Zealand”. It’s probably the first classical piece many of us knew well enough to whistle. The Vox electric uke I’m playing is generally not well regarded, but one thing it has is heaps of sustain, so there is a suggestion of the prominent brass section that drives the orchestral original.