Finzi, Gerald: Two Sonnets op. 12 (mid-1920s) 8'
for tenor (or soprano) and small orchestra
Music Text
Milton (E)
Scoring
2.1.corA.2.2-2.0.0.0-strings.
Abbreviations (PDF).
Territory
This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes for the world.
Repertoire Note
In returning to consider the brevity of life – a subject which continually inspired his creativity – Finzi employs chamber orchestra forces to match those of Farewell to Arms. The songs, in the composer’s words, "come off better in performance than they look as if they would". Indeed, the instrumental textures here are often thinner, but Finzi’s melodic and harmonic hallmarks shine out as clearly as ever in this intuitive musical response to Milton’s verse.
Recommended Recording
John Carol Case / Ian Partridge / Jane Manning / John Noble
John Alldis Choir
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / New Philharmonia Orchestra / Vernon Handley
Lyrita SRCD.237
for tenor (or soprano) and small orchestra
Music Text
Milton (E)
Scoring
2.1.corA.2.2-2.0.0.0-strings.
Abbreviations (PDF).
Territory
This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes for the world.
Repertoire Note
In returning to consider the brevity of life – a subject which continually inspired his creativity – Finzi employs chamber orchestra forces to match those of Farewell to Arms. The songs, in the composer’s words, "come off better in performance than they look as if they would". Indeed, the instrumental textures here are often thinner, but Finzi’s melodic and harmonic hallmarks shine out as clearly as ever in this intuitive musical response to Milton’s verse.
Recommended Recording
John Carol Case / Ian Partridge / Jane Manning / John Noble
John Alldis Choir
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / New Philharmonia Orchestra / Vernon Handley
Lyrita SRCD.237
Click here to purchase this CD from Amazon
Mailing List
Sign up for news updates and offers via email
SIGN UP
Featured Publication
Britten: War Requiem
Britten's pacifist masterwork, combining war poetry by Wilfred Owen with the Latin Requiem Mass, is included in the Masterworks Library of full scores, ideal for conductors, students and music lovers.
READ MORE