Finzi's In Terra Pax
Dec. 29th, 2016 09:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sawylI have a feeling I might have posted Gerald Finzi's In Terra Pax before, but it's so beautiful I feel completely justified in repeating myself. The piece is very characteristic of Finzi's output, with a wistful introduction that references The First Nowell followed by lovely reflective, slightly melancholy baritone solo which set Robert Bridges' poem Noel: Christmas Eve 1913, transporting the nativity to a snowy English landscape. Following the first part of poem, the chorus enter with words from St Luke's Gospel 2:8, introducing the shepherds abiding the fields.
The chorus continue with words from St Luke, announcing the arrival of the angel of the Lord. The soprano enters with the words of the angel, Luke 2:10-12, followed by a great outburst of joy from the chorus on the words "Glory to God in the highest" while the orchestra shifts back to quoting the carol, prefacing the return of the baritone with the closing verse of Bridges' poem.
It's a shame the piece isn't better known: it's truly lovely and the sad realisation that it was written close to the end of Finzi's life adds a bittersweet quality to the work and, especially, the pianissimo ending.
The chorus continue with words from St Luke, announcing the arrival of the angel of the Lord. The soprano enters with the words of the angel, Luke 2:10-12, followed by a great outburst of joy from the chorus on the words "Glory to God in the highest" while the orchestra shifts back to quoting the carol, prefacing the return of the baritone with the closing verse of Bridges' poem.
It's a shame the piece isn't better known: it's truly lovely and the sad realisation that it was written close to the end of Finzi's life adds a bittersweet quality to the work and, especially, the pianissimo ending.
