Delius vs. Bax

[Mirror Image]

Whose music means more to you?

I only like a few Bax works. I'm honestly not very impressed with a lot of his output. He composed some symphonies that are worth hearing, but nothing in his music sticks out in my head. The two works by Bax that have impressed me the most are Spring Fire and In Memoriam for cor anglais, harp, and string quartet.

My choice is Delius for the simple fact that he's written more music that I enjoy and his orchestral works and choral works have been stamped into my mind. I can't forget them. Bax is easy to forget. No matter how much a person hates Delius, they can't forget the music. The musical language is completely his own.

[Bulldog]

My choice is Delius for the simple fact that he's written more music that I enjoy and his orchestral works and choral works have been stamped into my mind. I can't forget them. Bax is easy to forget. No matter how much a person hates Delius, they can't forget the music.

I've already forgotten it.  I'll take Bax.

[madaboutmahler]

Will vote for Delius. So many of his works I love so very much, and I generally love his style, especially in more calm music. It has a subtlety and pastoral sense (although very different RVW) that I absolutely adore. An incredible composer.

I love much of Bax too, although do not know as much and the music does not speak to me as much as Delius' does. Works like Tintagel stay in my mind and are special to me though, probably because it was one of the works in the MSO programme which featured my commissioned piece. Through that I got to know the piece very well as I was in the rehearsals etc.

Delius.

[Mirror Image]

I've already forgotten it.  I'll take Bax.

Actually, you haven't. You remember it quite clearly. Once you've heard Delius, you can never forget. Everyone I've spoken with who likes/dislikes Delius have all said the same thing: he's a unique composer who had his own musical language. Not your cup of tea, fine, but don't lie and say you've forgotten about the music, because I know better.

[starrynight]

Some composers have just been recorded and championed more and so seem to have had more good recordings.  You could probably say that about Martinu over Honegger and the same with Delius over Bax.  That might reflect that they have done more good work, but could it could also indicate an underrating of the lesser known composer.

[Mirror Image]

Some composers have just been recorded and championed more and so seem to have had more good recordings.  You could probably say that about Martinu over Honegger and the same with Delius over Bax.  That might reflect that they have done more good work, but could it could also indicate an underrating of the lesser known composer.

Bax has had his fair share of great recordings. If you remember Handley and Thomson were strong advocates of his music and have turned in great performances. I don't think it's ever the question who has been championed or performed more than the other composer, but whose music moves you more. In other words, it's all subjectivity.

[Klaze]

I don't know who this Delius fellow is, so I voted for Bax. 

He composed some symphonies that are worth hearing, but nothing in his music sticks out in my head.

Not even the epilogue to the third symphony?

[Mirror Image]

Not even the epilogue to the third symphony?

Nope I don't remember the 3rd symphony at all, but I do remember some of Bax's music. I really need to go through Bax's symphonies again (I own both Handley's and Thomson's sets). I do remember preferring the Thomson set over the Handley though.

[DieNacht]

Can´t choose. The (very) overall picture is perhaps that as regards the psychological effect, Bax often tends to be grandiose, granite and heroicism - whereas Delius is more lyrical, introvert and even discreet. Yes, there are many exceptions from such a generalization, but I think they are equal, with each their specialities and values as regards listening. Overall though, I have been listening more to Delius, but he can be too vague as regards the musical ongoings, whereas Bax can be a bit too heavy as regards the motifs.

Have got most of their works, but still haven´t really got well aquainted with a lot of them.

Favourites are

Bax: Symphonic Variations for Piano & Orchestra/Fingerhut, 1st + 3rd Symphony/Thomson, Tintagel/Barbirolli

Delius: Florida Suite & North Country Sketches/Handley, Paris/Del Mar or Groves, Songs of Sunset/Terfel, Violin Cto/Holmes, Violin Sonatas/Holmes, Choral songs/Halsey

[starrynight]

Beecham was a great conductor by any standard and his advocacy of Delius definitely made his music relatively well known.  Obviously the different styles will appeal to different people as well, I realise that.  Delius is more an impressionist perhaps.  But the music of Delius I think has also been more famous for longer due to someone like Beecham.

[Bulldog]

Actually, you haven't. You remember it quite clearly. Once you've heard Delius, you can never forget. Everyone I've spoken with who likes/dislikes Delius have all said the same thing: he's a unique composer who had his own musical language. Not your cup of tea, fine, but don't lie and say you've forgotten about the music, because I know better.

You know nothing when it comes to what I remember.  By the way, you state that you don't remember the Bax 3rd symphony; I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you're telling the truth.

[DavidW]

Bax obviously... oh wait what if I haven't heard Delius?

[Mirror Image]

You know nothing when it comes to what I remember.  By the way, you state that you don't remember the Bax 3rd symphony; I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you're telling the truth.

What I'm saying is that nobody forgets Delius's music once they've heard it whether it be a certain melodic phrase or instrumental effect. You're the only person who has heard Delius's music that has somehow forgotten it. I simply said you weren't being honest, which you're still not. Bax isn't as distinctive a composer as Delius is. His musical language isn't as original.

[mahler10th]

Bax means much more to me, but Delius's music is by far the more 'beautiful'.    Therefore I am neutral here.  Banana.   0:)

[DavidW]

You're the only person who has heard Delius's music that has somehow forgotten it.

Actually that's me too!

[Mirror Image]

Actually that's me too!

Somehow, I don't believe you.

[Lethevich]

I've already forgotten it.  I'll take Bax.

Same here. As much as I try, something about Delius' orchestral language doesn't draw my attention, or more accurately does not retain it. As much as I lament that Bax might have written a few more tunes, I love the rest of his toolkit.

[Mirror Image]

I don't know who this Delius fellow is, so I voted for Bax. 

I hope the winking smiley face indicates that you're truly joking around because, if not, I'm taking this poll down immediately.

[Todd]

Same here.

Me as well.  Other than the First Cuckoo, Delius' music tends to blend together. 

[eyeresist]

Actually, you haven't. You remember it quite clearly. Once you've heard Delius, you can never forget. Everyone I've spoken with who likes/dislikes Delius have all said the same thing: he's a unique composer who had his own musical language. Not your cup of tea, fine, but don't lie and say you've forgotten about the music, because I know better.

What I'm saying is that nobody forgets Delius's music once they've heard it whether it be a certain melodic phrase or instrumental effect. You're the only person who has heard Delius's music that has somehow forgotten it. I simply said you weren't being honest, which you're still not. Bax isn't as distinctive a composer as Delius is. His musical language isn't as original.

A: I'm 5'8".
B: You are 6 feet tall!
A: No, really, I'm 5'8". I measured it.
B: You are 6 feet tall! Only a fool would deny it!

I voted Bax. I have a few Delius discs, but they've made no great impression on me, whereas Bax grabbed me fairly quickly. I can remember several of his tunes offhand, and if I put one of his better works on the stereo (Garden of Fand, Happy Forest, Symphonies 1 & 3 are favourites), I know I am assured of a good time.