Gerald Finzi (1900-1956) Elegy for violin and piano, op.22 (1940)

Gerald Finzi’s Elegy for violin and piano is one of only four pieces of chamber music composed by him. The best known are the Five Bagatelles for clarinet and piano, op.23 (1938-43), which have been recorded many times and regularly feature on radio. The other examples are an Interlude for oboe and string quartet, op.21 (1932-36) and the rarely heard Prelude and Fugue for string trio, op.24 (1938).

Finzi completed his Elegy during 1940, although he had been working on it for several years: it was originally planned as part of an unfulfilled violin sonata. The Elegy was premiered in 1954 by Frederick Grinke at the Wigmore Hall. The piece remained in manuscript for nearly thirty years until Finzi’s friend and executor Howard Ferguson prepared an edition for publication by Boosey and Hawkes, Ltd.  The editorial changes included the addition of expression marks and the excision of several bars of piano solo at the end of the piece.

The Elegy’s melancholic mood is typical of Finzi’ obsession with the transience of life. The lyrical melody and the gentle harmonies that infuse much of this music present a good balance between nostalgia and a gentle pastoralism. There is little dissonance to disturb the mood. By way of contrast there is an intense climax before the music returns to its idyllic repose. Musical interest in the Elegy is achieved by some clever key changes and the use of subtly weaving imitation between soloists.

Finzi's Elegy has been uploaded to YouTube. The soloists are Daniel Hope (violin) and Simon Mulligan (piano). The video includes some attractive landscape shots.