MICHAEL FINNISSY (b. 1946)Outside Fort Tregantle (2008)

This chapter assesses composer/pianist Michael Finnissy’s Outside Fort Tregantle (2008). This song is less of a display piece than a contemplative reverie. Unsurprisingly, though, the pianist is given a dauntingly virtuoso, rhythmically and harmonically complex part. Through all this, the singer drifts serene and undeterred, in gently undulating lines, creating an almost impressionistic effect. Good breath control, clarity, and evenness of tone are prime requisites, and time will need to be allowed for familiarization with pitches. The music’s modernist idiom is highly individual and fascinating, and to capture its haunting quality requires deep thought and insight. At the slow opening tempo, phrases will need plenty of support in order to be sung in one span. Ultimately, for the intelligent singer, the piece constitutes a distinctive test of empathy and sensitivity.