JAMES WILSON (1922–2005)First Frost (1988)
This chapter discusses First Frost by James Wilson. This work showcases Wilson’s unfaltering taste, wit, and technical expertise. Drawing on a rich range of interests and experience, he possesses a flexible musical language, implicitly tonal, yet with a free-ranging chromaticism. Some gestures evoke an earlier generation of English composers, yet remain distinctively his, generating considerable emotional power. He sustains atmosphere especially well, and responds instinctively to the sensuous nature of syllables and the minutiae of their inflections. Furthermore, the texts offer a veritable cornucopia of memorable images, their biting perceptions needing no further adornment. They reflect eloquently on the relation between Man and Nature, especially the parallel between impending Death and the coming of Winter. Despite the often grim pictures presented, however, a sense of beauty and truth prevails in this piece.