Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

Like all of his generation Gerald Finzi (born in 1901) grew up in the shadow of death. By the age of 17 he had lost his father and brothers as well as his first composition teacher Ernest Farrar. However he was not a morbid composer. Rather he came to realise that life is short and that for too many the fear of the future causes us to forget the joys of the past. Wordsworth's Intimations Of Immortality from Recollections Of Early Childhood is thus an ideal text for Finzi. He started before the Second World War and finished in time for the 1950 Three Choirs Festival. The music is a reflection of much of 20th century English vocal music. There are passages that remind us of Elgar with broad melodies full of pomp and circumstance; in places there are echoes of the invention of William Walton and any British composer who sets poetry to music will be compared to Benjamin Britten. And here Finzi holds his own in such exalted company, helped to a great extent by the superb performance by the tenor James Gilchrist. The "Ode For St Cecilia" is an exultant paean honouring music's patron saint in the words of Edmund Blunden. This is an enjoyable value for money CD.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.