FINZI Clarinet Concerto

GERALD FINZI
Clarinet Concerto, Op.31
Robert Plane, clarinet
Northern Sinfonia
Howard Griffiths

[@Freakinreviews]

I wish Finzi had more recognition. His works have such depth, and he was so brilliant at orchestration. This is a masterpiece in every sense of the word.

[@rr7firefly]

Having read the Wiki entry for Finzi, I am further appreciative of his creative work. He suffered serious emotional setbacks, including the loss of his father before his 8th birthday and three brothers during his formative years. Some of his best music, notably, is elegiac in nature.

[@alexkije]

Indeed!

[@paulsutton5896]

It totally is.

[@MichaelConwayBaker]

A masterpiece. I heard this many years and was so overwhelmed I wrote to Finzi's widow of my admiration for this work. Finzi certainly deserves a place among the first rank of 20th c. composers.

[@zyltch1]

This concerto is some of the most beautiful English music ever written - melancholic, wistful, elegiac - reminiscent of the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness and, at a personal level, a dear friend who took his own life many years ago.

[@christhornley1664]

A vein of quite profound melancholy runs through much of Finzi's work, and a lot of other English classical music for that matter. But it's a kind of romantic melancholy I find appealing rather than despairing.

[@ajacks1349]

Between the wars melancholy triggered largely by the huge losses of WW1?

[@WolfeTone66]

“For me, no composer touches the heart like Gerald Finzi”...The words of John Brunning on Classic FM about this wonderful composer.

[@qusayalmusi5362]

One of the greatest concertoes during the whole musical history ...

[@andrewpetersen5272]

His cello concerto as well!

[@SimonUbsdell]

Gorgeous playing from Robert Plane. Such a perfect match for this sad, rich, expressive music. Finzi just gets more and more and interesting the more one listens and plays. The sun only rarely makes an appearance from behind the clouds.

[@tashaschneider1419]

Evokes images of adorable geese, paddling on the water! Finzi's writing for clarinets is perfect!

[@normannokes9513]

Finzi endured the terrible loss of three brothers in the first world war. Need . I say more.

[@user-cr7mm8ol1f]

This is my favourite clarinet concerto of them all. I played this many years ago for my 2nd year recital (uni). The high C came out beautifully (pure luck hehe). I listen to this concerto once every few months with fondness. Such a beautiful work.

[@LucTaMusic]

I. Allegro vigoroso (0:01) II. Adagio, ma senza rigore (7:53) III. Rondo: Allegro giocoso (19:34)

[@NestoreZavattori]

This is one of the greatest clarinet concertos ever written!!!! Exquisite!!!

[@paulsutton5896]

Totally agree. THE greatest. Although Brahms did the instrument a good turn.

[@davidhumphries9330]

Deceptively,simple and unpretentious -Finzi has written a masterpiece of a Concerto. It retains it's''englishness'' in flavour; it's wistfullness and expresses lovely quiet melodies. This and Samuel Barber's Clarinet Concerto are amongst my favourite relaxing Concertii.

[@kennethdower7425]

" Barber's Clarinet Concerto " lol, where o' where did you dream that up?

[@robertoalexandre4250]

@@kennethdower7425 Probably means the Violin Concerto, which indeed is a masterpiece. I do wish Barber wrote one though.

[@kennethdower7425]

@@robertoalexandre4250 Yeah, I figured that, but thought I'd tease. He didn't mean the piano concerto and he certainly didn't mean the 'cello concerto so there you go. He wants a relaxing concerto! Bless his little heart.

[@robertoalexandre4250]

@@kennethdower7425 For sure! Comment made me chuckle.

[@davebarclay4429]

@@kennethdower7425 Probably a mistake for Copeland

[@amandacarden3483]

I will never forget the chills I had playing this wonderful piece back in high school.. .many ages ago..

[@MichaelConwayBaker]

I have listened to this wonderful concerto for many years. I never tire of how inventive Finzi is. What a loss that he died so young.

[@marialudkin-finnie5599]

I have recently been playing Finzi's Five Bagatelles and was curious to listen to some more Finzi - I'm very glad I did!🎵

[@culveyhouse]

One of the best clarinet concertos ever written, in my opinion, fusing a little counterpoint with 20th century British idiom. I don't know if anyone will ever be able to outwit Finzi's concertos in the next 100 years.

[@shijoejoseph2011]

Not if good ol' England keeps coming forth with such dimwitted tosspots as OneDirection and their ilk -- America ain't, too, better at that! It's abominably bad what has come to pass in the realm of music; to the point where senseless noise is all they understand and validate as music!

[@culveyhouse]

+Shijoe Joseph Lol, I can't understand your comment. How about wait until you're sober next time before replying to one of my comments.

[@shijoejoseph2011]

Oh, ye should, first and foremost, seriously consider getting a refresher course in basic English, sweetheart, and then be concerned with music's pitfalls and probable betterment, much less, my 'sobriety'! :-P :-D

[@culveyhouse]

Exactly ;)

[@culveyhouse]

+Shijoe Joseph: You're nothing more than a useless, brainless troll.

[@Pianoman88notes]

Pensive and melancholy (I wouldn't say 'sad'), especially in the first two movements, but the sun comes out from behind the clouds in the Rondo third movement (major sections). Robert Plane is a wonderful clarinettist. I love this work.

[@lucymcmahon6344]

Beautifully expressed Peter, I wouldn't call it sad either...pensive definitely and very moving. It's one of my all time favourite works and I love it more and more every time I listen to it. Yes, Robert Plane is superb and has just the right mixture of bright and dark sounds for Finzi...absolutely superb performance. Guess who is the brand new owner of this very recording? :-)

[@zanelowrymusic3793]

15:32-16:21 Is one of my most favorite moments out of all the works of Gerald Finzi.

[@ecureuilvigilant4315]

Interprétation magnifique. Laissons notre imagination voguer au gré de ces notes. Merci pour cette mise en ligne.

[@budweiser3278]

언제 들어도 뭉클한 곡입니다. 고맙습니다

[@andymellor114]

I can't find a better recording of this! Robert Plane is a fantastic clarinetist! A wonderful interpretation of my favourite concerto!

[@parthoroy9141]

I've always loved this piece. His music was so calm and pastoral, unless he put on his leather jacket and transformed into his bad boy alter ego, Gerald Fonzie. That's when the music got really interesting - ayyyyy!

[@alexkije]

This is nice. Thanks for posting.

[@rr7firefly]

II. Adagio, ma senza rigore (7:53) Stunning beauty.

[@thesoundunit]

Oh wow tears and such abruptness of character with truly a soft hearted kindness.

[@jean-remibrabant3062]

Musique inspirée qui nous transporte.

[@wielandwittmann9832]

Really really gorgeous. 👍👍👍👏👏👏

[@antoniopola542]

Beautiful masterwork, IMO the best composition by Finzi

[@peterchen6124]

fantasitic music! i love classics ,i love vinyl art!

[@SuperMariamalia]

Pocas veces escuché el maravilloso sonido del clarinete como en este bello y melancólico concierto de Finzi.

[@paulsutton5896]

I lurve this concerto. It encapsulates the second Elizabethan age - which somehow failed to thrive, sometime in the 1950s. But this is glorious.

[@robertfrankgill5962]

I remember one cold evening in Edinburgh (brrrr!) in March 1978 watching the final of Young Musician of the Year on TV. The winner was a clarinetist called Michael Hext and he played this in the final.

[@goballroom1285]

The performer was Michael Collins (Hext was the trombonist winner).

[@robertfrankgill5962]

@@goballroom1285 Oops. Yes. My mistake.

[@irenemwrench8594]

Beautiful concerto.

[@RodrigoElorduy]

Love this composer!

[@lamaspacos]

THE BEST

[@johnminster3205]

Very fine piece of music.

[@AntiBat01]

Love it! Just received my copy from my Amazon order. I'll be preparing it for my university's concerto competition.

[@Walterec1]

+girolle01 You do not say why.

[@AntiBat01]

+girolle01 I was given a number of options. The third movement of this one was one of them, and it was most audibly appealing to me. It has a bit of a romantic and heroic return to it.

[@AntiBat01]

+girolle01 Alright. Well, I've never been to one. This is my freshmen year in college. I'm really just doing this for the experience, because I know there are many really advanced players in my university, and we have a great clarinet professor. I think my future choices will be based more on what skills they want the performer to express. I've done the "mainstream" line of clarinet music before (Solo De Concours, Rabaud and Messager, Weber, blah blah). I found this one to be an interesting spin on my usual repertoire. It's a beautiful piece. :)

[@AntiBat01]

+girolle01 I'm sure. lawlz

[@manthasagittarius1]

+AntiBat01 So tell us how it went, unless it was an awful experience.

[@Malignanttorture]

Fantastic. Thank you for posting.

[@keidarvoice]

Really beautiful! Well played and expressed.

[@luclavoie8159]

sensible and marvelous !!

[@GarethWonfor]

Such sad music :(

[@osushi1366]

吹いてみたいクラリネット作品第一位の作品！

[@archivesofarda986]

14:00 Just wow

[@rhythmharmony2923]

Aand: 14:42 ;)

[@sidosoft]

7:26 !!!

[@redpiper1204]

Where can the orchestra sheet music be bought for this? I can only find the piano reduction

[@stueystuey1962]

Elliott Carter's clarinet concerto brought me here.

[@paulsutton5896]

What is so good about Elliot Carter that I should know? I only know the name. Carter may be good, but he cannot possibly rival Finzi.

[@jovanyclarinet1]

Very Good, where can I get the parts for orchestra? Thank you.

[@koooolkate]

maybe try imslp?

[@nicholas72611]

www.boosey.com/cr/perusals/score?id=1286 Boosey and Hawkes has free online scores for certain composers. Make an account and you can score read it.

[@andrewpetersen5272]

Here is a tangent question. I am a great reader of fiction. especially short stories. Anyone out there recommend an author to read while listening to this music? Hope you don't find my question obtuse.

[@paulsutton5896]

I do find it obtuse. Quit fiction. Interest yourself in physics.

[@robertwalker2052]

Why Virginia Woolfe, of course.

[@TheJoebiker]

sheet anywhere?

[@andrewpetersen5272]

No, just in the loo.

[@Rickriquinho]

This is real music; let's forget the typical modernism.

[@whollybro]

C'est un peu comme Ralph Vaughan Williams, but not as 'meh' ;-)

[@KozenaFan]

I. Allegro vigoroso; II. Adagio, ma senza rigore; III. Rondo: Allegro giocoso

[@fflambeauutube]

I find Finzi to be neither fish nor fowl. I'm not sold on him, to me, his music has a murky qualiy to it; like looking through a fish bowl. This is much better than most of his works but it still doesn't have the sprightly clarity and playfulness of Mozart or Weber for that matter.

[@andrewpetersen5272]

Why do you expect playfulness? It is in all ways a perfect concerto. He was a 20th century composer not an 19th one. Broaden your emotional understanding my friend.

[@paulsutton5896]

If you were English, this concerto would speak to you. The atmosphere is the thing. It is just so poignant. Finzi lost three brothers in WW1.

[@renzo6490]

I’m not English ( I am New Englandish) and I am very drawn to this piece and others by Finzi. It’s haunting as well as wistful.

[@Belfreyite]

Exactly, there is no comparison and why should there be. Music is of the person,of the time. If not, then it is a fraud.

[@davebarclay4429]

@@paulsutton5896 I'm not English (Scottish and a bit of Welsh) but Finzi's music certainly speaks to me.