Sibelius published his first piano music in 1893, and, seldom heard as the results are, wrote piano music (for the most part miniatures of two or three minutes duration) at regular intervals for the remainder of his composing career. Often he would take refuge in such small, comparatively unambitious pieces while struggling with a larger composition. Such was the case with the collection "Trees," Op. 75, written in 1914 while Sibelius was hard at work on the Symphony No. 5. The publication of "Trees," as well as the similar but weaker Op. 74 and 76 piano collections, also provided a little extra income for the Sibelius family during this difficult early period of the Great War.

Much has been written about Sibelius love of nature. Although he also enjoyed the bustle and social atmosphere of larger cities, he consistently sought refuge in the countryside, going so far as to purchase a log house (which he named Ainola after his wife Aina) miles away from Helsinki, where he lived for the last 53 years of his life. One can appreciate his feelings in such a collection as "Trees"—one can practically hear the wind blowing through the branches in a piece like "The Lonely Pine." "When the Rowan Flowers" is slightly angular melodically and harmonically, with just enough of the characteristic Sibelian sound to maintain interest. "The Aspen" is a sweet and oddly memorable little trifle, while "The Birch" is almost exultant at first, but with a quiet, pensive ending. There is a genuine wistfulness at the core of "The Spruce," bringing to a quiet close one of the best of Sibelius' piano collections.

An addendum: the "Trees" suite originally had a sixth piece, titled "The Lilac," which Sibelius later fashioned into the orchestral Valse lyrique Op. 96a (1919).

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