Tom Fool’s Wooing for 14 solo voices, was initially conceived for the John Allldis choir, who had performed an earlier work of mine (Cipriano) for 10-voice ensemble. The writing took from 1975 to 1978, three emotionally and financially turbulent years, and by the time it was finished, the choir was no longer in existence. In 2013 James Weeks told me of his intention to finally perform the work, and, after looking through the score, I decided to considerably revise the central folk-play that lends the work its title. (Michael Finnissy)

On 12 and 13 March, the Guildhall School and Exaudi present a weekend of events in celebration of Michael Finnissy’s 70th birthday, which takes place on 17 March. Among the works performed will be the long awaited world première of Tom Fool’s Wooing for 14 voices.

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