Jean Sibelius (1865 - 1957)
Valse Triste, Op. 44

Sibelius wrote incidental music for a number of plays during his career, and in most cases his music has outlived the plays themselves. This is certainly true of the drama written by his brother-in-law Arvid Jarnefelt called "Kuolema" - though since the title means "Death" in Finnish, it is perhaps not surprising that the play didn't have a great appeal.

The Valse Triste accompanies a scene in which the principal character is at the bedside of his dying mother. She tells him that she is dreaming of her youth, and of attending a glittering ball. She is still dreaming when Death comes for her and, mistaking the hooded figure for her late husband, she begins to dance with him.