[1] Hymn of the Earth is scored for the following instruments and voices,[1] organized by family (vocalists, woodwinds, brass, percussion, and strings): The cantata resulted from a commission by the Finnish choral conductor Heikki Klemetti [fi], who had founded the mixed choir Suomen Laulu [fi] in 1900 and desired from Sibelius a new work that the ensemble could perform in the spring of 1920 to celebrate its twentieth anniversary.

Although Sibelius had planned to set Suomenmaa by the Finnish poet Aleksis Kivi, he settled on Maan virsi by Eino Leino.

sulle kiitosta kantele soikoon, suvilaulu Suomen, tuoksussa juhannuskoivun ja tuomen, rikkaana riemuita virtemme voikoon, elonhuolet voittaa, kauneuden korkean sydänkieltä soittaa.

Let the kantele sing thee its thanks, Finland’s summer song, In the scent of the midsummer birch and hawthorn, Rich may our streams rejoice, Overcoming the cares of life, Sounding the inner voice of high beauty.

[4] The Estonian conductor Eri Klas and the Finnish National Opera Orchestra and Chorus made the world premiere studio recording of the Hymn of the Earth in 1990 for Ondine.