Dies natalis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dies natalis (Day of Birth) is a composition by Gerald Finzi for solo soprano or tenor and string orchestra. Finzi set texts of the poet Thomas Traherne from Centuries of Meditation.^[1] Written from 1938-1939, the score was published in 1946.^[2] Finzi himself conducted the work at the Three Choirs Festival in 1946.^[3]

Dies natalis received its first recording sponsored by the British Council during Finzi's lifetime, only one of two recordings of his music made when the composer was alive. In 1964, his son Christopher Finzi conducted the work for recording.^[4]

The work is in five moments:

1. "Intrada"
2. "Rhapsody" (Recitativo stromentato)
3. "The Rapture" (Danza)
4. "Wonder" (Arioso)
5. "The Salutation" (Aria)

N.G. Long has analysed concisely Finzi's setting of the texts.^[5]

[edit] Recordings

Decca AK 1645-7: Joan Cross; Boyd Neel Orchestra; Boyd Neel, conductor^[4]
World Record Club SCM 50 (HMV HQS 1260): Wilfred Brown; English Chamber Orchestra; Christopher Finzi, conductor^[4] ^[6]
Argo ZRG 896: Philip Langridge; London Symphony Orchestra; Richard Hickox, conductor^[4]
Hyperion CDA66876: John Mark Ainsley; Corydon Orchestra; Matthew Best, conductor

[edit] References

^ Russell, John (Autumn 1954). "Gerald Finzi: An English Composer". Tempo 33: 9-15.
^ Boyd, C.M. (Autumn 1954). "Gerald Finzi and the Solo Song". Tempo 33: 15-19.
^ Tancred (October 1946). "The Three Choirs Festival, Hereford, September 8-14". The Musical Times 87 (1244): 315-316.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Diana McVeagh, "A Finzi Discography" (March 1981). Tempo (New Ser.), 136: pp. 19-22.
^ Boyd, C.M. (December 1946). "The Songs of Gerald Finzi". Tempo 2 (7): 7-11.
^ "Gramophone Records: Dies Natalis" (1964). The Musical Times, 105 (1457): p. 531.