Composer

:

Gerald Finzi

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

1946

Average_duration

:

3:07

Gerald Finzi's "My lovely one" is a song cycle composed in 1945 for voice and piano. The cycle consists of five movements, each of which sets a poem by a different poet. The premiere of the work was given by tenor Wilfred Brown and pianist Gerald Moore in London in 1946. The first movement, "To Lizbie Browne," sets a poem by Thomas Hardy. The music is gentle and flowing, with a lilting piano accompaniment that supports the vocal line. The second movement, "The Comet at Yell'ham," sets a poem by Hardy as well. This movement is more dramatic, with a faster tempo and more complex piano writing. The third movement, "The Sigh," sets a poem by John Keats. The music is slow and mournful, with a simple piano accompaniment that emphasizes the melancholy mood of the text. The fourth movement, "Two Lips," sets a poem by William Shakespeare. This movement is more playful, with a bouncy piano accompaniment and a vocal line that dances around the text. The final movement, "Amabel," sets a poem by Robert Bridges. This movement is the longest and most complex of the cycle, with a wide range of emotions and moods. The music shifts between slow, mournful sections and faster, more energetic passages, reflecting the changing emotions of the text. Overall, "My lovely one" is a beautiful and expressive song cycle that showcases Finzi's skill as a composer. The music is lyrical and melodic, with a strong sense of emotional depth and sensitivity to the text. The cycle is a testament to Finzi's love of poetry and his ability to bring that poetry to life through music.

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