MUSIC: "Finlandia" by Jean Sibelius

"Jean Sibelius was one of the most important figures in Finland's struggle for independence – his music inspired the masses and instilled a powerful sense of patriotism and solidarity amongst his people. Sibelius wrote Finlandia as a protest against increasing censorship from the Russian Empire, and the gorgeous, hymn-like theme that concludes the piece became the melody for the Finnish national anthem." (Source)

"In order to avoid Russian censorship, Finlandia had to be performed under alternate names at various musical concerts. Titles under which the piece masqueraded were numerous, a famous example being Happy Feelings at the awakening of Finnish Spring, and A Scandinavian Choral March.

Most of the piece is taken up with rousing and turbulent music, evoking the national struggle of the Finnish people. Towards the end, a calm comes over the orchestra, and the serenely melodic Finlandia Hymn is heard. Often incorrectly cited as a traditional folk melody, the Hymn section is of Sibelius's own creation.

Other words commonly sung to the same melody include six Christian hymns (Be Still, My Soul; I Sought the Lord; We Rest on Thee; A Christian Home; This Is My Song; and I Then Shall Live), Gweddi dros Gymru or A Prayer for Wales (a national song of Wales), Ambrosian Oaks (the alma mater of St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa), and Land of the Rising Sun (the national anthem of the short-lived African state of Biafra), and At Thy Call We Gather (the alma mater of Iolani School in Honolulu, Hawaii). It is also the tune for Capital University's alma mater, "O Capital." (Source)