Finzi: Song cycles

[teamsaint]

You must have bigger hands than me!
Foolish of me to think that I could tackle the piano part.


The first chord in bar 4 of the first song in Till Earth Outwears is (from bottom up) LH F-C-A flat, RH D-C-E flat, and my poor little hands just don't stretch that far.

Hands like buckets he has, Pulcers . Wasted in the law IMO . What a slip fielder or goalkeeper he would have been .

( at least folk are spared his vice- like handshake for the moment......)

[Nick Armstrong]

Hands like buckets he has, Pulcers . Wasted in the law IMO . What a slip fielder or goalkeeper he would have been .

( at least folk are spared his vice- like handshake for the moment......)

[Edgy 2]

Yes I’m a Finzi fan too.
Thanks for starting the thread Pulcie though I probably won’t be able to add anything enlightening.
I love the song cycles and have most of the recordings on your list.

[BBMmk2]

Incidentally, Earth, Wind and Rain is my favourite one as well. Also I rather like Dies Natalis.

[Historian]

Many thanks for the recommendations for the new West Berks./North Hants. 'Gerald Finzi Trail'. Once this strange time is over (and we must remember it will be over) then a pilgrimage would seem to be in order. Until then his music will help us through.

[Historian]

Incidentally, Earth, Wind and Rain is my favourite one as well.

A very fine cycle BBM and such variety: 'Waiting Both', 'The Clock of the Years' and 'Proud Songsters' all wonderful (in my view). There are so many great songs through all of the sequences. Would not like to be without the epic 'Channel Firing' for example.

[BBMmk2]

A very fine cycle BBM and such variety: 'Waiting Both', 'The Clock of the Years' and 'Proud Songsters' all wonderful (in my view). There are so many great songs through all of the sequences. Would not like to be without the epic 'Channel Firing' for example.

Very much in agreement.

[BBMmk2]

Incidentally, Earth, Wind and Rain is my favourite one as well. Also I rather like Dies Natalis.

I’m surprised no one has mentioned Dies Natalis?.

[Pulcinella]

I’m surprised no one has mentioned Dies Natalis?.

My fault (if fault it be), as I was thinking primarily of the songs for voice and piano.
Trevor Hold considers Dies Natalis in his chapter on Finzi in his book (mentioned in post #3), which I read yesterday.

Although he finds much to praise, Hold is surprisingly (to me, at least) critical of Finzi as a composer.
He says, for example:
Despite his many virtues as a songwriter, Finzi as a composer has fundamental weaknesses which mar his songs.
Well, that's telling us!

Earth and air and rain seems to be the most highly regarded set, both by him and by others on this thread, so that's where I shall start this morning.

[gradus]

I’m surprised no one has mentioned Dies Natalis?.

Consider it mentioned. I've been listening to the Susan Gritton/EdwardGardiner recording and am struck by the lovely phrasing of the BBCSO string players.

[Nick Armstrong]

I’m surprised no one has mentioned Dies Natalis?.

Always think of it as a Cantata, rather than a song cycle as per thread title...

Unforgettable piece, of course

[teamsaint]

My fault (if fault it be), as I was thinking primarily of the songs for voice and piano.
Trevor Hold considers Dies Natalis in his chapter on Finzi in his book (mentioned in post #3), which I read yesterday.

Although he finds much to praise, Hold is surprisingly (to me, at least) critical of Finzi as a composer.
He says, for example:
Despite his many virtues as a songwriter, Finzi as a composer has fundamental weaknesses which mar his songs.
Well, that's telling us!

Earth and air and rain seems to be the most highly regarded set, both by him and by others on this thread, so that's where I shall start this morning.

Well, I’d be interested to hear about these “ fundamental weaknesses”.

Fundamental weaknesses might include( ok things that tend to bug me !).........

Setting words clumsily ( THE Cardinal sin)
Failure to conjour interest out of apparently simple material or structures.
Repetitive or thoughtless structures.
Weak endings to choruses.

Feel free to add your own .....

( Above I am referring to individual songs, rather than construction of cycles.)

[ardcarp]

Setting words clumsily ( THE Cardinal sin)

Finzi is a fantastic word-setter. His notation often looks a bit complicated but it is done that way to achieve a natural emphasis of words. I'm probably preaching to the converted here.

If Finzi has a weakness it is to let rhythmic drive lapse into a post-Elgarian swoon every so often. But I love it, and for me Dies Natalis is pure joy.

[LMcD]

The one Finzi work I couldn't be without is 'Let Us Garlands Bring'. I have the Terfel/Martineau recording.

[Historian]

The one Finzi work I couldn't be without is 'Let Us Garlands Bring'. I have the Terfel/Martineau recording.

Wonderful isn't it? Such a great sing, even for an amateur baritone like me. Marvellous accompaniments as well. Terfel and Martineau are a splendid pairing too.