BaL 30.06.18 - Finzi: Dies Natalis

[antongould]

YouTube video with score:

https://youtu.be/hkHj1H7Av9M

The comments suggest that this is the Wilfred Brown recording.

Many thanks for this pulcers .... Really looking forward to this BAL ......

[Stanfordian]

Not secennarily, Bbm - Ms Thomas is a Soprano herself, after all, so might have a different perspective on the work from that of those of us used to Wilfred Brown's recording.

'Stating' and 'Obvious' are two words that spring to mind here!

[Pulcinella]

Item 6 in this link

http://www.thomastraherneassociation.org/ejc_details.php?c=Gerald+Finzi&iframe=true

gives details of a 1979 LP release of the 1946 recording with Joan Cross and Boyd Neel.

Item 16 in the list sounds mildly intriguing.

[ardcarp]

Wilfred Brown without any hesitation. As with others, this was the version which introduced me to the work and led to my investigation of Finzi's other output.

The Wilfred Brown 'Dies Natalis' is one of greatest recordings of English music I have heard!

Ditto for me. It's a very special recording. Obviously it's the one I've known all my life and have unconsciously or otherwise tried to emulate from both sides of the rostrum. That is not to say others aren't good (Ainsley for instance). I see from Alpie's list that this classic is only available as a download. Really?

I just find hearing a soprano sing it isn't 'right' somehow. Difficult to say why, except that the register of the voice lies more 'embedded' in the string texture with a tenor.

[Pabmusic]

Item 6 in this link

http://www.thomastraherneassociation.org/ejc_details.php?c=Gerald+Finzi&iframe=true

gives details of a 1979 LP release of the 1946 recording with Joan Cross and Boyd Neel...

I mentioned this earlier in this thread. Apparently it was one of only two recordings of GF's music made in his lifetime. Boyd Neel was taken ill during the seasions, and GF really disn't like Joan Cross, thinking her too 'in' with the Britten crowd. Cross herself thought she had not taken it seriously enough. (All per Deanna McVeagh's biography).

[Pulcinella]

I mentioned this earlier in this thread. Apparently it was one of only two recordings of GF's music made in his lifetime. Boyd Neel was taken ill during the seasions, and GF really disn't like Joan Cross, thinking her too 'in' with the Britten crowd. Cross herself thought she had not taken it seriously enough. (All per Deanna McVeagh's biography).

Mentioned in the wiki link in the OP, too.

[gradus]

I like the Susan Gritton/EdwardGardner recording although the words -of some importance in this piece, are not always clear, to my ears at least, however I am expecting to enjoy all the versions of Finzi's masterpiece.

[PJPJ]

Wilfred Brown is my front runner. But it looks as though there's one recording not available - didn't Joan Cross record it with Boyd Neel, or have I got that hopelessly wrong? It was the work's first recording.

I think so - I'm pretty sure I have the Joan Cross recording on a hard drive currently in store for another month or so....... courtesy of a friend who transferred it from 78s.

[ardcarp]

although the words -of some importance in this piece, are not always clear,

...whereas Wilfred Brown's diction is impeccable.

From Wiki:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilfred_Brown

After a performance of Dies Natalis a long while ago, an old guy came up to me and introduced himself. He had lived in Newbury and had known Finzi personally. Rather sadly, he related how Wilfred Brown had continued performing Dies Natalis when he was quite ill with the tumour that killed him and was well past his best. He said he wished he hadn't...and I inwardly wished I hadn't heard that piece of information.

[Nevilevelis]

I've got my score and I'm ready!

[gurnemanz]

Interested to read above contributions. It's great for me that a BaL sometimes focuses attention on works which I don't really know that well. The only recording I have is on a BBC mag cover disc which I got mainly for John Tavener's The Protecting Veil with Gennady Rozhdestvensky and Steven Isserlis. I haven't played the Finzi that often and have no comparison but have just listened again. Not 100% my style of music but Andrew Kennedy with James Judd and BBC NOW sound pretty good to me.

[Cockney Sparrow]

There is a review of a biography of Wilfred Brown in the May edition of The Gramophone (page 110). The review tells that Brown was teaching at Bedales and Finzi's sons who were there "summoned" him to hear Brown, and Finzi was instrumental, with others to persuade Brown to try a professional singing career.

Wilfred Brown: At the Crossroads of Human Experience by Stephen Duncan Johnston. Published June 1st 2017 by EM Publishing. (with a foreword by Dame Janet Baker).

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40108314-wilfred-brown

[PJPJ]

There is a review of a biography of Wilfred Brown in the May edition of The Gramophone (page 110). The review tells that Brown was teaching at Bedales and Finzi's sons who were there "summoned" him to hear Brown, and Finzi was instrumental, with others to persuade Brown to try a professional singing career.

Wilfred Brown: At the Crossroads of Human Experience by Stephen Duncan Johnston. Published June 1st 2017 by EM Publishing. (with a foreword by Dame Janet Baker).

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...-wilfred-brown

And here's a tempting website!

https://www.em-publishing.com/books.html

[sbmonty]

This is my first experience with this work. I've chosen Padmore; Britten Sinfonia; Shave. The quality of discussions, both prior to and following the program are so enlightening. What an excellent resource. Thanks to all.

[Nick Armstrong]

This is my first experience with this work. I've chosen Padmore; Britten Sinfonia; Shave. The quality of discussions, both prior to and following the program are so enlightening. What an excellent resource. Thanks to all.

Welcome to the Forum, sbmonty - good to hear you get a lot out of these discussions Just pitch in and have fun!