I wish Finzi had more recognition. His works have such depth, and he was so brilliant at orchestration. This is a masterpiece in every sense of the word.
Having read the Wiki entry for Finzi, I am further appreciative of his creative work. He suffered serious emotional setbacks, including the loss of his father before his 8th birthday and three brothers during his formative years. Some of his best music, notably, is elegiac in nature.
This concerto is some of the most beautiful English music ever written - melancholic, wistful, elegiac - reminiscent of the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness and, at a personal level, a dear friend who took his own life many years ago.
A masterpiece. I heard this many years and was so overwhelmed I wrote to Finzi's widow of my admiration for this work. Finzi certainly deserves a place among the first rank of 20th c. composers.
A vein of quite profound melancholy runs through much of Finzi's work, and a lot of other English classical music for that matter. But it's a kind of romantic melancholy I find appealing rather than despairing.
Gorgeous playing from Robert Plane. Such a perfect match for this sad, rich, expressive music. Finzi just gets more and more and interesting the more one listens and plays. The sun only rarely makes an appearance from behind the clouds.
This is my favourite clarinet concerto of them all. I played this many years ago for my 2nd year recital (uni). The high C came out beautifully (pure luck hehe). I listen to this concerto once every few months with fondness. Such a beautiful work.
Deceptively,simple and unpretentious -Finzi has written a masterpiece of a Concerto. It retains it's''englishness'' in flavour; it's wistfullness and expresses lovely quiet melodies. This and Samuel Barber's Clarinet Concerto are amongst my favourite relaxing Concertii.
@@robertoalexandre4250 Yeah, I figured that, but thought I'd tease. He didn't mean the piano concerto and he certainly didn't mean the 'cello concerto so there you go. He wants a relaxing concerto! Bless his little heart.
Pensive and melancholy (I wouldn't say 'sad'), especially in the first two movements, but the sun comes out from behind the clouds in the Rondo third movement (major sections). Robert Plane is a wonderful clarinettist. I love this work.
Beautifully expressed Peter, I wouldn't call it sad either...pensive definitely and very moving. It's one of my all time favourite works and I love it more and more every time I listen to it. Yes, Robert Plane is superb and has just the right mixture of bright and dark sounds for Finzi...absolutely superb performance. Guess who is the brand new owner of this very recording? :-)
One of the best clarinet concertos ever written, in my opinion, fusing a little counterpoint with 20th century British idiom. I don't know if anyone will ever be able to outwit Finzi's concertos in the next 100 years.
Not if good ol' England keeps coming forth with such dimwitted tosspots as OneDirection and their ilk -- America ain't, too, better at that! It's abominably bad what has come to pass in the realm of music; to the point where senseless noise is all they understand and validate as music!
Oh, ye should, first and foremost, seriously consider getting a refresher course in basic English, sweetheart, and then be concerned with music's pitfalls and probable betterment, much less, my 'sobriety'! :-P :-D
I've always loved this piece. His music was so calm and pastoral, unless he put on his leather jacket and transformed into his bad boy alter ego, Gerald Fonzie. That's when the music got really interesting - ayyyyy!
I remember one cold evening in Edinburgh (brrrr!) in March 1978 watching the final of Young Musician of the Year on TV. The winner was a clarinetist called Michael Hext and he played this in the final.
+girolle01 I was given a number of options. The third movement of this one was one of them, and it was most audibly appealing to me. It has a bit of a romantic and heroic return to it.
+girolle01 Alright. Well, I've never been to one. This is my freshmen year in college. I'm really just doing this for the experience, because I know there are many really advanced players in my university, and we have a great clarinet professor. I think my future choices will be based more on what skills they want the performer to express. I've done the "mainstream" line of clarinet music before (Solo De Concours, Rabaud and Messager, Weber, blah blah). I found this one to be an interesting spin on my usual repertoire. It's a beautiful piece. :)
Here is a tangent question. I am a great reader of fiction. especially short stories. Anyone out there recommend an author to read while listening to this music? Hope you don't find my question obtuse.
I find Finzi to be neither fish nor fowl. I'm not sold on him, to me, his music has a murky qualiy to it; like looking through a fish bowl. This is much better than most of his works but it still doesn't have the sprightly clarity and playfulness of Mozart or Weber for that matter.
Why do you expect playfulness? It is in all ways a perfect concerto. He was a 20th century composer not an 19th one. Broaden your emotional understanding my friend.