Finzi, Gerald: Dies Natalis op. 8 (mid 1920s,1938-39) 25'

Cantata for soprano (tenor) and strings

Music Text  
Thomas Traherne (E)

World Premiere
1/26/1940
Wigmore Hall, London
Elsie Suddaby, soprano / Maurice Miles String Orchestra / Maurice Miles


Repertoire Note  
Quintessentially the essence of Finzi, Dies natalis sets texts by the 17th century poet Thomas Traherne which reflect the joy and wonder of a newborn child’s innocent perspective on the world. The richly textured, resourceful string writing and the long instrumental melodic lines have a broad sweep which carries the music naturally forwards in a unity of spirit with the poetry - a hallmark of Finzi’s art. The subtle inflections of the word-setting and the arching lyricism have attracted many leading vocalists to the work in concert and on disc, including Wilfred Brown, Ian Partridge, Philip Langridge, Ian Bostridge and John Mark Ainsley. Although particularly associated with the tenor voice, Dies natalis was premiered and is increasingly performed by sopranos, including Amanda Roocroft and Rebecca Evans.

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