Finzi's sole work for violin and piano, the
Elegy was first performed by Frederick Grinke in 1954, but only published — under Ferguson's editorship — in 1982. The
Elegy was composed over a number of years, reaching completion in 1940 when it was laid aside with a view to other movements being added to form a violin sonata. The project never materialized, however, and Finzi decided that the piece could stand by itself under its present title. In its serene melody, and untroubled harmony, it bears kinship with those other slow movements of Finzi, for instance the second and last movements respectively of the Cello Concerto and
Dies Natalis in the rare expression of spiritual radiance created here.
from notes by Andrew Burn © 1986
