Dies Natalis (cantata) facts for kids

Dies Natalis (Latin: "Natal Day" or "Day of Birth"), Op. 8, is a special kind of musical piece called a cantata. It was composed between 1938 and 1939 by the English composer Gerald Finzi (1901–1956). This cantata is written for a single singer, either a soprano (a high female voice) or a tenor (a high male voice), and is accompanied by a string orchestra. The music uses words from four different writings by Thomas Traherne (1636/37–1674), who was an English poet, priest, and thinker from the 1600s.

About the Music

Dies Natalis is a cantata that features a solo voice and a string orchestra. It begins with an orchestral piece, and then the singer joins for four more sections. In these parts, Finzi set beautiful and thoughtful texts by the 17th-century English poet Thomas Traherne. Finzi chose three of Traherne's poems and also used some of his prose (regular writing) from a collection called Centuries of Meditations. The music was written from 1938 to 1939 and was published in 1946. Gerald Finzi himself conducted the work at the Three Choirs Festival in 1946.

The very first recording of Dies Natalis was made in 1946 and 1947. It was one of only two recordings of Finzi's music made while he was still alive. Later, in 1964, Finzi's son, Christopher Finzi, conducted the work for its second recording. The singer for this recording was Wilfred Brown, who had sung Dies Natalis with the composer before. Finzi's biographer, Diana McVeagh, said that Brown's singing in this recording was "among his finest," meaning it was very intelligent, poetic, and showed a deep understanding of the words.

Parts of the Cantata

The cantata is divided into five main parts, called movements:

• "Intrada" (This is an orchestral introduction)
• "Rhapsody" (This part is like a free-flowing song)
• "The Rapture" (This part is like a dance)
• "Wonder" (This part is like a gentle song, called an Arioso)
• "The Salutation" (This part is a main song, called an Aria)

The Words Behind the Music

The sung parts of Dies Natalis use texts that explore the wonder and joy of childhood, and the beauty of the world as seen through innocent eyes. The words describe a feeling of newness and excitement, as if everything is perfect and full of light. They talk about how amazing the world seems when you are young, and how everything feels divine and connected to a higher power. The poems express a deep sense of gratitude for life and all its treasures.