Naxos
Finzi: Lo The Full Final Sacrifice, Etc / Robinson, Et Al
$19.99
Details
- Composer
- FINZI
- Artist
- Christopher, Cambridge, Whitton, Christopher, Robinson
- Format
- CD
- Label
- Naxos
- Released
- Jan 01, 2003
- Catalog #
- 8555792
- UPC
- 747313579228
About
Gerald Finzi's choral music never has achieved popularity on the level of works by composers such as Stanford, Vaughan Williams, or Elgar, and in general this is because by comparison it's not as well-organized, the inner structural details aren't as carefully developed, and the balance of text with musical ideas isn't as facile. As a result, many of Finzi's choral pieces sound just a bit labored, a bit more difficult than they need to be, the structural edges a bit rough, the overall concept unpolished. Just listen to any of Finzi's partsongs against, say, Stanford's motet Beata quorum via or Elgar's As torrents in summer, or Finzi's Lo, the full, final sacrifice next to Vaughan Williams' Toward the unknown region, and you'll see what I mean.
Not that Finzi is a careless or inept craftsman. Rather, in his vocal music he is a wonderful miniaturist (just listen to his exquisitely wrought 10 children's songs or to his fine solo songs with piano, for example--not included here) whose more expansive efforts just tend to have an unfinished quality that's often allied to an excessively text-bound style that hinders the flow of such pieces as the Magnificat and the anthem Welcome sweet and sacred feast.
And that's too bad, because Finzi's works are packed with beautiful moments, lovely melodic snippets, and delightful quiet sections followed by thrilling climaxes. All of those things are present among these pieces, which provide an excellent introduction to this composer's choral oeuvre. In spite of its structural faults the Magnificat remains a powerful and interesting piece--and the cathedral anthem Lo, the full, final sacrifice is bound to rouse any congregation or audience with its grand singing and organ accompaniment. The seven partsongs are not particularly memorable, for all their effortful dramatic qualities.
Nevertheless, the singing on this disc is very fine--of course, this is a choir that you can count on to have such repertoire down cold--and it's always impressive to hear trebles sing with such solidity of tone and brilliant, never harsh, high notes, perfectly blended and balanced with the lower voices. While there are times that some choral sections stand out a bit too prominently, the organ is exceptionally well recorded. If you're interested in Finzi's choral music, you won't go wrong here--however, if you want the sound of an adult mixed choir in this same repertoire (with a few additional selections), very beautifully recorded, try the reference disc, with the Finzi Singers on Chandos.
--David Vernier, ClassicsToday.com
Not that Finzi is a careless or inept craftsman. Rather, in his vocal music he is a wonderful miniaturist (just listen to his exquisitely wrought 10 children's songs or to his fine solo songs with piano, for example--not included here) whose more expansive efforts just tend to have an unfinished quality that's often allied to an excessively text-bound style that hinders the flow of such pieces as the Magnificat and the anthem Welcome sweet and sacred feast.
And that's too bad, because Finzi's works are packed with beautiful moments, lovely melodic snippets, and delightful quiet sections followed by thrilling climaxes. All of those things are present among these pieces, which provide an excellent introduction to this composer's choral oeuvre. In spite of its structural faults the Magnificat remains a powerful and interesting piece--and the cathedral anthem Lo, the full, final sacrifice is bound to rouse any congregation or audience with its grand singing and organ accompaniment. The seven partsongs are not particularly memorable, for all their effortful dramatic qualities.
Nevertheless, the singing on this disc is very fine--of course, this is a choir that you can count on to have such repertoire down cold--and it's always impressive to hear trebles sing with such solidity of tone and brilliant, never harsh, high notes, perfectly blended and balanced with the lower voices. While there are times that some choral sections stand out a bit too prominently, the organ is exceptionally well recorded. If you're interested in Finzi's choral music, you won't go wrong here--however, if you want the sound of an adult mixed choir in this same repertoire (with a few additional selections), very beautifully recorded, try the reference disc, with the Finzi Singers on Chandos.
--David Vernier, ClassicsToday.com
Tracklist 14 tracks
-
1 3 Anthems, Op. 27: No. 2. God is gone up 04:26
- Track
- 1
- Title
- 3 Anthems, Op. 27: No. 2. God is gone up
- Duration
- 04:26
- Composer
- Gerald Finzi
- Performer
- Christopher Whitton
- Ensemble
- Cambridge Choir of St. John's College
- Conductor
- Christopher Robinson
-
2 Magnificat, Op. 36 09:30
- Track
- 2
- Title
- Magnificat, Op. 36
- Duration
- 09:30
- Composer
- Gerald Finzi
- Performer
- Christopher Whitton
- Ensemble
- Cambridge Choir of St. John's College
- Conductor
- Christopher Robinson
-
3 3 Anthems, Op. 27: No. 1. My lovely one 02:28
- Track
- 3
- Title
- 3 Anthems, Op. 27: No. 1. My lovely one
- Duration
- 02:28
- Composer
- Gerald Finzi
- Performer
- Christopher Whitton
- Ensemble
- Cambridge Choir of St. John's College
- Conductor
- Christopher Robinson
-
4 3 Anthems, Op. 27: No. 3. Welcome sweet and sacred feast 07:30
- Track
- 4
- Title
- 3 Anthems, Op. 27: No. 3. Welcome sweet and sacred feast
- Duration
- 07:30
- Composer
- Gerald Finzi
- Performer
- Christopher Whitton
- Ensemble
- Cambridge Choir of St. John's College
- Conductor
- Christopher Robinson
-
5 Thou didst delight my eyes, Op. 32 02:20
- Track
- 5
- Title
- Thou didst delight my eyes, Op. 32
- Duration
- 02:20
- Composer
- Gerald Finzi
- Ensemble
- Cambridge Choir of St. John's College
- Conductor
- Christopher Robinson
-
6 Let us now praise famous men, Op. 35 02:52
- Track
- 6
- Title
- Let us now praise famous men, Op. 35
- Duration
- 02:52
- Composer
- Gerald Finzi
- Performer
- Christopher Whitton
- Ensemble
- Cambridge Choir of St. John's College
- Conductor
- Christopher Robinson
-
7 No. 1. I praise the tender flower 02:17
- Track
- 7
- Title
- No. 1. I praise the tender flower
- Duration
- 02:17
- Composer
- Gerald Finzi
- Ensemble
- Cambridge Choir of St. John's College
- Conductor
- Christopher Robinson
-
8 No. 2. I have loved flowers that fade 02:30
- Track
- 8
- Title
- No. 2. I have loved flowers that fade
- Duration
- 02:30
- Composer
- Gerald Finzi
- Ensemble
- Cambridge Choir of St. John's College
- Conductor
- Christopher Robinson
-
9 No. 3. My spirit sang all day 01:40
- Track
- 9
- Title
- No. 3. My spirit sang all day
- Duration
- 01:40
- Composer
- Gerald Finzi
- Ensemble
- Cambridge Choir of St. John's College
- Conductor
- Christopher Robinson
-
10 No. 4. Clear and gentle stream 04:13
- Track
- 10
- Title
- No. 4. Clear and gentle stream
- Duration
- 04:13
- Composer
- Gerald Finzi
- Ensemble
- Cambridge Choir of St. John's College
- Conductor
- Christopher Robinson
-
11 No. 5. Nightingales 03:05
- Track
- 11
- Title
- No. 5. Nightingales
- Duration
- 03:05
- Composer
- Gerald Finzi
- Ensemble
- Cambridge Choir of St. John's College
- Conductor
- Christopher Robinson
-
12 No. 6. Haste on, my Joys! 02:00
- Track
- 12
- Title
- No. 6. Haste on, my Joys!
- Duration
- 02:00
- Composer
- Gerald Finzi
- Ensemble
- Cambridge Choir of St. John's College
- Conductor
- Christopher Robinson
-
13 No. 7. Wherefore tonight so full of care 03:11
- Track
- 13
- Title
- No. 7. Wherefore tonight so full of care
- Duration
- 03:11
- Composer
- Gerald Finzi
- Ensemble
- Cambridge Choir of St. John's College
- Conductor
- Christopher Robinson
-
14 Lo, the Full, Final Sacrifice, Op. 26 14:08
- Track
- 14
- Title
- Lo, the Full, Final Sacrifice, Op. 26
- Duration
- 14:08
- Composer
- Gerald Finzi
- Performer
- Christopher Whitton
- Ensemble
- Cambridge Choir of St. John's College
- Conductor
- Christopher Robinson