Emil Genetz

Emil Genetz

Emil Genetz (October 24, 1852 – May 1, 1930) was a Finnish composer of patriotic choral works.

Genetz was born in Impilahti, Finland (now in the Republic of Karelia). He became professionally employed as a language teacher, but gained prominence for his choral compositions. After studying chemistry and law at the University of Helsinki, he became a singer in the Finnish Opera, and traveled on a state grant to study at the Dresden Conservatory from 1875 to 1877. He spent time in various cities of Finland, including Hameenlinna, Helsinki, and Hamina, working as a German language teacher, composing patriotic works, and conducting choirs. He died in Helsinki in 1930. Many of his works are still well known in modern Finland.

References

• Ruth-Esther Hillila and Barbara Blanchard Hong, ed. (1997). "Genetz, Emil". Historical Dictionary of the Music and Musicians of Finland. Greenwood Press. p. 99. ISBN 0-313-27728-1.

James Fuld in his The Book of World-Famous Music points out that the first two measures of Genetz' Heraa Suomi! (Arise Finland!) for male chorus, published in 1882, are almost identical with the main tune of Jean Sibelius' Finlandia of 1900, during which time Finland was part of the Russian Empire, which makes one consider how blatantly revolutionary against the Czarist regime Sibelius' wordless orchestral piece was.