Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Gerald Finzi's vocal music with this captivating album, released on Naxos in 2006. Finzi, a British composer with a deep appreciation for poetry, offers a collection of songs that are as insightful as they are melodious. The album features three distinct song cycles: "Earth and Air and Rain," "To a Poet," and "By Footpath and Stile," each showcasing Finzi's unique ability to translate the essence of poetry into music.
"Earth and Air and Rain" is a setting of ten poems by Thomas Hardy, demonstrating Finzi's uncanny sympathy and insight into Hardy's verse. The cycle is followed by "To a Poet," a collection of songs that further exhibit Finzi's skill in setting various poets to music. The album concludes with "By Footpath and Stile," Finzi's first published work, which includes six songs that capture the beauty of the English countryside.
With a duration of 71 minutes, this album offers a comprehensive exploration of Finzi's vocal music. His compositions are marked by a deep understanding of the texts he sets, resulting in songs that are both musically engaging and poetically profound. Whether you're a fan of classical music, poetry, or simply appreciate the art of song, this album is sure to delight and inspire.
(C) 2006 Naxos(P) 2006 Naxos
Tracks
Earth and Air and Rain, Op. 15: No. 1, Summer SchemesGerald Finzi, Roderick Williams, Iain Burnside
Earth and Air and Rain, Op. 15: No. 2, When I Set Out for LyonesseGerald Finzi, Roderick Williams, Iain Burnside
Earth and Air and Rain, Op. 15: No. 3, Waiting BothGerald Finzi, Roderick Williams, Iain Burnside
Earth and Air and Rain, Op. 15: No. 4, The PhantomGerald Finzi, Roderick Williams, Iain Burnside
Earth and Air and Rain, Op. 15: No. 5, So I Have FaredGerald Finzi, Roderick Williams, Iain Burnside
Earth and Air and Rain, Op. 15: No. 6, Rollicum-RorumGerald Finzi, Roderick Williams, Iain Burnside
Earth and Air and Rain, Op. 15: No. 7, To Lizbie BrowneGerald Finzi, Roderick Williams, Iain Burnside
Earth and Air and Rain, Op. 15: No. 8, The Clock of the YearsGerald Finzi, Roderick Williams, Iain Burnside
Earth and Air and Rain, Op. 15: No. 9, In a ChurchyardGerald Finzi, Roderick Williams, Iain Burnside
Earth and Air and Rain, Op. 15: No. 10, Proud SongstersGerald Finzi, Roderick Williams, Iain Burnside
To a Poet, Op. 13a: No. 1, To a Poet a Thousand Years HenceGerald Finzi, Roderick Williams, Iain Burnside
To a Poet, Op. 13a: No. 2, On Parent KneesGerald Finzi, Roderick Williams, Iain Burnside
To a Poet, Op. 13a: No. 3, IntradaGerald Finzi, Roderick Williams, Iain Burnside
To a Poet, Op. 13a: No. 4, The BirthnightGerald Finzi, Roderick Williams, Iain Burnside
To a Poet, Op. 13a: No. 5, June on Castle HillGerald Finzi, Roderick Williams, Iain Burnside
To a Poet, Op. 13a: No. 6, Ode on the Rejection of St. CeciliaGerald Finzi, Roderick Williams, Iain Burnside
By Footpath and Stile, Op. 2: No. 1, Paying CallsGerald Finzi, Roderick Williams, Sacconi Quartet
By Footpath and Stile, Op. 2: No. 2, Where the Picnic WasGerald Finzi, Roderick Williams, Sacconi Quartet
By Footpath and Stile, Op. 2: No. 3, The OxenGerald Finzi, Roderick Williams, Sacconi Quartet
By Footpath and Stile, Op. 2: No. 4, The Master and the LeavesGerald Finzi, Roderick Williams, Sacconi Quartet
By Footpath and Stile, Op. 2: No. 5, Voices from Things Growing in a ChurchyardGerald Finzi, Roderick Williams, Sacconi Quartet
By Footpath and Stile, Op. 2: No. 6, Exeunt OmnesGerald Finzi, Roderick Williams, Sacconi Quartet
Vinylscout