Gerald Finzi - Romance in E flat major, Op. 11 

Finzi's music is like opening a closet of unfiltered bagages of emotions. It's a deep longing for a world I never knew, an invitation for serene places to visit and contemplate. He certainly knew how to capture the sound of Love.

This breathtakingly beautiful piece is perhaps one of the most romantic love stories ever written. The main melodic theme is played by two instruments in close harmony throughout, representing the union of two people and their love for each other. It is reiterated a number of times in the piece, both in it's original setting and in modal variants. These, along with a secondary theme and other dynamic episodes in the middle section, represent the different periods in their lives. Once these episodes complete, the main theme returns - albeit at a slower pace - representing the couple as older. It is repeated 3 times each time slightly slower and softer, as in aging. On a final reiteration of the theme, where - almost with their last dying breath - they again state their love for each other. This is perhaps the most poignant moment in the entire piece.

FINZI'S MUSIC CONVEYS GREAT BEAUTY, SADNESS AND A SUBTLE MAJESTIC FEELING. THE PICTURES ARE INDEED OUTSTANDING. I HAVE A PASSIONATE LOVE FOR ENGLAND.

The artistic "pairing" of this sublime piece with the serene winter-white photographs is remarkably soul-soothing. Thank you for this gift.

Music straight from heaven!

I have fallen in love with G. Finzi’s music all over again - superb performance!

Yes, I want to thank Ant too for his choices and the sensitively photographed videos; so evocative. I discovered Gerald Finzi for myself, many years ago, when I was driving to work. It was the Clarinet Concerto I heard; I stopped the car to listen to it to the end, and was late into work. I'm so glad I did, and I never lost my love for his work.

Astounding work of art, still brings me to emotion after all these years. It takes a very special composer to so delicately capture this emotion, and very talented musicians to express it so beautifully. Thank you for this gift to the world.

This is one of my very favorite Finzi pieces. Truly a gem and richly emotive.

A wonderfully thoughtful, beautiful performance of a work that should become more familiar to orchestras and audiences everywhere!

Today It's snowy rain. I am enjoying your Finzi with coffee and a home made chocolate cake. Thank you for your beautiful picture.

The introduction and when the violin begins is just sublime. Very melancholic. Thank you for posting it.

Thank you for creating this visual display and sharing this with us - you have adorned this music.

Love his Music…very romantic,…silence..Merci for sharing ! ❤️🎼❤️👏🍂🍁

If when I die, I am led to eternity, let this music be my guide.

Beautiful music and lovely photos. Brings back memories of my childhood, and walks at Disley in winter with Jim Dignan.

You have encapsulated everything I miss about England in your choice of music and the wonderful images of England as I remember her....

Breathtakingly Beautiful.

Happily this recording is still available on the Naxos label. I'm ordering the CD tomorrow!

Genius is seeing the same world in a new way: in taking the old familiar elements of rhythm, harmony and melody and, rather than conforming to stereotypes, instead crafting something new and surprising, with unexpected yet harmonious sour notes that draw us into a reciprocal verse, and triggers an unexpected, and delightful, emotional response. I fear I am rambling, but music, as with pictures, are often worth a thousand words and it is difficult to summarise Finzi in fewer than that. However, there is one word that may suffice: sublime. I hope all who read this are well, and that the tribulations of our present day soon give way to renewed prosperity.

Music + pictures = Gorgeous 👍 👍 👍 👏 👏 👏 🙋

Such a beautiful moment!

What a fine music. Beautiful pictures

Never tire of listening to Finzi's beautiful evocative music. Nice pics too!

Thanks AntPDC. Been a fan of Finzi for many years (ever since hearing the Hardy Song cycles). The videos you have put together are a work of art and have enthralled me for over a year now. Cheers! :-)

Quintessential Englishness, Here is a spirit that speaks of a place far away, and altogether lovely, like the mist in your delightful photo's....the true heart & soul just knows ! Thank you, a lovely post.

Isn't Britain so beautiful? We need to hang on to that.

Those visuals remind me of going to see my gran in Swanwick every year in the holidays. I wish motor neurone disease hadn't taken her so soon- I haven't been back in 6 years now.

beautiful music lovely photos too

Gorgeous pics and divine music. Just perfect.

some years ago I rediscovered English music, I am now delighted to say I have discovered someone else, such beautiful music, to my ears it has a certain richness about it, I think the visuals complement the music beautifully, congratulations.

What a beautiful song.

The photos and music are poignant and heart-tending. I’ve listened to classical music, as a world-traveled artist, I’ve painted to it and studied it for over forty years, and only recently became passionate about the English composers. This brings back fond memories of my time in England. Finzi has that melodic gift as does Ralph Vaughn Williams, Harold Duke, and George Butterworth, before the atonal (nihilistic) music and critics arrived. Beautiful melancholy music you post together with your touching photography bring peace and harmony to us! Thank you, sir for posting this!

Fantastic music and photos. Congratulations for your splendid taste.

... lovely photos ... and this performance of Finzi's beautiful Romance tone poem is perfection ...

When I irst heard Finzi's music I wasn't really sure about it but, as time has passed, I have warmed to it considerably . I now rate it as some of the most passionate and tender music written by any English composer. Thanks for posting this and others.

Finzi was the master of composing sweeping melodies that reach deep into the soul- his orchestration and voice layering is really ingenious. As a young scholar of twentieth-century English music, listening to Finzi's work is like taking a bath in rose water while drinking tea on a cold, Winter day.

Beautiful music, beautiful photos!

What a lovely presentation - Finzi's gentle composition effectively compliments your gentle snow-and-mistscapes...and vice versa. Nicely done!

Gorgeous visual. Beautiful music! Well done! Thank you for sharing!

@hifaso Muito obrigado hifaso! Here is Google's translation of hifaso's comment from Portuguese to English: "Finzi writes music accessible, but full of feeling transcendent. The mysterious stillness soon gives time to the melody, incredibly beautiful, passionate, lyrical reminiscences behaving, feeling an irresistible spring circling, until finally retire autumnal resignation. A beautiful gem of the repertoire for string orchestra".

lovely....... both the music and the images-- well done and many thanks!

Thanks for the upload and the beautiful visuals. Great job all round. Making my day

Apart from the music being sublime you have put together a great collage of images to match the music perfectly,I live in a built up area of Manchester UK where escapism is needed occasionally and these footage's and with Finzi's music is a great way to escape for a moment or two!...

Another underrated composer along with Zipoli....lovely

Finzi new of romance inherent in loss, in death and renewal. By all accounts, viewing these images, so do you AntDC. Achingly lovely stuff.

Beautiful video, what a joy to hear Finzi's music on YT and accompanied by such appropriately English images. Thank you so much for uploading this, I was very relieved not to see the dreaded advert attached to the beginning of it :)

Finzi escreve música acessível, mas plena de sentimento transcendente. A misteriosa quietude logo cede vez à melodia, incrivelmente linda, apaixonada, comportando líricas reminiscências, volteando irresistível sentimento primaveril, até recolher-se finalmente à resignação outonal. Uma formosa joia para o repertório de orquestra de cordas.

What fantastic pictures - really good

Beautiful ~ thank you for posting & Happy New Year!

Thank you for uploading this. I did not know of this piece before. A very beautiful piece indeed.

Just gorgeous! quintessentiall Finzi. Loved the images too...thanks.

The home of my ancestors. I would, indeed, love to visit England before I pass on but alas it will not happen. I remain passionate about this and now focus this on classical music and landscape my ancestors once tread upon..

Thanks Steve :)

AntPDC- your upload has introduced me not just to this piece of music, but to the composer as well. Many thanks- I owe you one.

A Treasure beyond description. Goes straight to my playlist by that name ~ thank you!

Thank you!

The 1 person who disliked it should be ashamed of themselves

Somehow this makes me think of Puccini. Indeed a delightful piece - I don't believe there are any Finzi pieces that aren't ! I am starting to love Finzi almost even more than Vaughan Williams. Thanks to this unique YT channel !

.. beautiful...

I have never thought of Finzi in terms of Winter - could warm to the idea, though...

fun photos

nice

Nice

@lottaswan Thanks :)

ESPLENDIDO

Belated thanks. Copyright owners want their artists to be rewarded, and it's hard to argue with that I think. Absent a harder line, which would be in the interests of nobody, I think this compromise RU-vid is working OK. I do dislike a static image of album art however. Best wishes.

Certainly not your photos. What is there not to like? Finzi's is sublime

You sure are fond of the winter, AntPDC.....

The lushness of this music is complimented perfectly by the bleak winter photography. The shot of the pie-shop window is a bit of an anomaly though? Thanks for posting this, Ant; a lovely audio/visual experience.

H