One of Sibelius' most popular works is the symphonic poem FINLANDIA. Written in 1899 for a pageant held in association with the press pension celebrations, this work became a nationalist rallying cry for the Finnish people. The event was intended to support freedom of the press during a time when hostility was rising against the Russian tsars who ruled them. The struggle for independence continued until 1917. The work was originally titled FINLAND AWAKES, but was renamed in 1900 as FINLANDIA. This arrangement for four trombones by Dan Rager is taken from the Andante tranquillo section of that orchestral work.