Four Legends for Orchestra Includes:
Lemminkainen and the Maidens on the Island Op. 22/1,
The Swan of Tuonela Op. 22/2,
Lemminkainen in Tuonela Op. 22/3
Lemminkainen’s Return Op. 22/4

Little is known about the actual composition process ofLemminkinen,and the performance and publication history is rather complex, resulting in a first complete printing of all four movements en suite through the complete edition ofJean Sibelius Worksonly in 2013.
In summer 1894 Sibelius went to Central Europe, carrying among others a plan for an opera freely based on the Kalevala in his mind. But during this trip he reassessed his composing: I think I have found my old self again, musically speaking. I think I really am a tone painter and a poet. As a result he abandoned his opera plans, but musical parts may have found their way into theLemminkinenpieces which he started composing during that time. Definitely the overture had, it is now known and loved as The Swan of Tuonela.Lemminkinenbecame popular from the beginning and has attained a fixed position in the concert repertoire.

OnLemminkinen and the Maidens on the Islanda critic opined: We do not hesitate to award this tone painting of Lemminkinens erotic emotional world the first prize among all the young composers works. Sibelius himself said aboutLemminkinen in Tuonela: The cradle song at the end of the work is maternal love, which rakes the pieces of Lemminkinen together from the River Tuonela. and commented onLemminkinens Return: I would like to see more pride in us Finns. Why should we be ashamed? This is the underlying thought inLemminkinens Return. Lemminkinen is just as good as the noblest of earls. He is an aristocrat, without question an aristocrat!