"History, Analysis and Performance Considerations of Gerald Finzi's ...

45Figure 28. “Stretch all thy powers” interlocking octaves (measures 106-107).further emphasizes the great disparity between human devotions when compared with the divinelove, reminding that this sacrament and what it symbolizes, “sits above the best ambition of thy[Sion’s] love.” In this the climax of the anthem, Finzi begins the phrase “This sovereign subject”upon a dramatic upward leap of a minor ninth—the largest leap within the work—for bass, tenorand soprano voices in their upper registers. Such a significant gesture, set to the first instance ofan accented, clear declamatory style in measure 112, leaves no room for doubt in the listener’s(or singer’s) mind that this subject does indeed sit not simply “above,” but perhaps high abovethe best mortality attempts to offer in return (see Figure 29).