A problematic portfolio: an exploration of style and identity in the life of Gerald Finzi and the performance of "Introit" as part of his discarded Violin Concerto

This thesis explores the life, identity and compositional style of Gerald Finzi within the English Musical Renaissance. In particular, this thesis examines Finzi's problematic Violin Concerto and addresses the reasons why it does not work as a cohesive concerto, examining the relative success of his other works, and his compositional style. This culminates in a discussion of how this information regarding his life and style informs my performance of Introit, the re-released second movement of his violin concerto. This discussion will focus on the musical and technical components required to capture the essence and meaning of Introit drawing on recordings and musical examples from the score.