Two Sonnets
op. 12 (mid-1920s)for tenor (or soprano) and small orchestra
Duration: 8'
Music Text
Milton (E)
Scoring
2.1.corA.2.2-2.0.0.0-strings
Abbreviations (PDF)
Publisher
Boosey & Hawkes
Territory
This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes
for the world.
Availability
Repertoire Note
In returning to consider the brevity of life – a subject which continually inspired his creativity – Finzi employs chamber orchestra forces to match those of Farewell to Arms. The songs, in the composer’s words, "come off better in performance than they look as if they would". Indeed, the instrumental textures here are often thinner, but Finzi’s melodic and harmonic hallmarks shine out as clearly as ever in this intuitive musical response to Milton’s verse.
Recommended Recording
John Carol Case / Ian Partridge / Jane Manning / John Noble
John Alldis Choir
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / New Philharmonia Orchestra / Vernon Handley
Lyrita SRCD.237