Gerald Finzi - Eclogue for Piano and Strings Op. 10

To my surprise, I first came upon this piece only last year (2009). And I really don't know how that happened given my love of English music, and also of Finzi's nods to the Baroque idiom throughout this work.

I was driving home from Boston to Worcester along the (hideous) Massachusetts Turnpike when I heard "Eclogue" for the first time on the radio (NPR I think). I was so affected, I had to take the nearest off-ramp. It immediately seized my heart and mind. "If this doesn't break your heart, you haven't got a heart to break" as one reviewer has said of this piece.

Finzi gave this work an early Opus number (perhaps misleadingly in terms of his evolution as a composer) even though he revised it towards the end of his life. His "Elegy" for violin and piano, which shares elements of "Eclogue" is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_qKAin4kqI

My pics here are of a snowy Derbyshire Peak District at Christmas 2009. Again, these photos are centred on the village of Great Longstone, of its lovely medieval church and some of the surrounding landscape. I shall get better with the timings!

For more videos and other information about the Peak District please visit Let's Stay Peak District at http://www.peakdistrict-nationalpark.com

Piano: Peter Donohoe
Northern Sinfonia
Conducted by Howard Griffiths
A Naxos Recording