The Relationship of Music and Poetry in Dies Natalis by Gerald Finzi

abstract: This paper explores the relationship of text and music in Dies Natalis by Gerald Finzi. Many of Gerald Finzi’s compositions have been researched and analyzed, but Dies Natalis, a work for high voice and string quartet, has received limited attention. The text is by Thomas Traherne, a le...

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Bibliographic Details
Other Authors: McKee, Marcy McKee (Author)
Format: Doctoral Thesis
Language:English
Published: 2016
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/2286/R.I.38488
Description
Summary:abstract: This paper explores the relationship of text and music in Dies Natalis by Gerald Finzi. Many of Gerald Finzi’s compositions have been researched and analyzed, but Dies Natalis, a work for high voice and string quartet, has received limited attention. The text is by Thomas Traherne, a lesser-known English poet and theologian. The research investigates textual interpretation and an explanation or a discussion of the religious mysticism of Traherne. After a biographical discussion of the composer and the poet, this paper provides a musical analysis, including a study of thematic and harmonic relationships in the work, and an examination of word painting and text setting. To facilitate my analysis, I used the piano reduction and not the string score for this project. === Dissertation/Thesis === Doctoral Dissertation Music 2016