Gerald Finzi – Five Bagatelles Opus 23 For Clarinet And Piano Book

Boosey & Hawkes

Gerald Finzi – Five Bagatelles Opus 23 For Clarinet And Piano Book

The “Five Bagatelles Opus 23” by Gerald Finzi is a cherished collection within the standard clarinet repertoire, earning its place on prestigious high school contest solo repertory lists and examination syllabuses. This suite showcases Finzi’s remarkable musicality and offers a delightful array of five distinct movements: Prelude, Romance, Carol, Forlana, and Fughetta.

Gerald Finzi’s Clarinet Concerto, one of his most celebrated orchestral compositions, beautifully demonstrates his deep understanding of the clarinet as a solo instrument. The concerto expertly showcases the clarinet’s ability to effortlessly transition between sustained legato melodies and rapid virtuosic passages, all while being accompanied and intertwined with Finzi’s imaginative string writing. The concerto possesses an air of spontaneity, taking the listener on a journey through baroque-inflected pastoralism, nostalgic echoes of Elgar, and lively folk-inspired melodies.

Renowned artists such as Emma Johnson, Richard Stoltzman, Michael Collins, and Andrew Marriner have become synonymous with the Clarinet Concerto, captivating audiences with their interpretations in live performances and on recordings. Its compatibility with string accompaniment makes it a perfect pairing with works like “Dies natalis” or “Let us garlands bring,” as well as shorter compositions such as the Prelude and Romance. Additionally, it can be combined with string orchestra repertoire by Elgar, Vaughan Williams, or Britten, creating a captivating program that showcases the full depth of Finzi’s artistic vision.

AMEB:

Clarinet / Grade 3 / List C

• Carol No 3 from Five bagatelles

Clarinet / Grade 5 / List C

• Prelude No 1 from Five bagatelles

Clarinet / Grade 6 / List C

• Fughetta from Five bagatelles

Piano / Grade 7 / List D Collaborative Piano

• Carol No. 3 from 5 Bagatelles Op. 23

Gerald Finzi:Even before he was 18, Finzi’s father, three older brothers and teacher had all died. He was sharply aware of the fragility and transience of human existence, and so it’s small wonder he explored this theme in many of his later works.His early musical influences included Parry, Elgar and Vaughan Williams, and song composers such as Ivor Gurney, and his early successes included the Thomas Hardy cycles’A Young Man’s Exhortation’and’Earth and Air and Rain’, which established him as a masterly & sensitive setter of poetry – his oeuvre includes over 100 songs for soloist or choir.

Although clearly skilled as a miniaturist, after World War II he also embraced larger forms including’Clarinet Concerto’,’For St Cecilia’and’Intimations of Immortality’. His works are very lyrical, deeply responsive to words yet subtly understated, and often elegiac in tone, mingling human pain and natural beauty.Despite the pastoral calm emanating from many of his works, Finzi was an active person, championing neglected composers – a pursuit he continued even when his own frailty was taking advantage of him in his 50s in the form of leukaemia. He is one of most popular of 20th century British composers.(14 July 1901 – 27 September 1956)