Top 5 Favorite Delius Works

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Okay, here's a poll that will surely leave many a sour taste in their mouths unless they're a Delian like me ( ). There are no stipulations for this poll.

My Top 5 Favorite Delius Works (in no particular):

Songs of Sunset
In a Summer Garden
Violin Concerto
Violin Sonata No. 3
The Song of the High Hills

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Allow me to tell you a little story of how I discovered Delius by pure accident. I remember about six years ago when I was first starting to get serious about classical music and I was looking up the composer Delibes in a Google search. Well, I must have misspelled Delibes and then Google asked me "Did you mean Delius?" I actually said aloud "Who in the world is Delius? He's not who I'm looking for!" Curiosity got the better of me and so I searched for Delius instead. The first work I heard of his was In a Summer Garden and from the first couple of measures I was completely in state of wonderment. I was hooked. From that point, I went through a lot of questioning and self-doubt about the composer and whether I truly liked his music until I reached the point of where I stopped caring about what the critics and even people on forums were saying about Delius' music. He's not everyone's cup of tea obviously, but I never understood the downright nastiness of some people who criticized his music. But, as with anything in life, you learn to ignore the naysayers and find people who share your passion. Thankfully, there are some people who like his music a great deal and it's always a pleasure to talk with them. At this point in time, I know all of the criticisms of the composer, but have really stopped caring about them as his music really tugs at my heart and soothes my soul and this is what is most important. Not many other composers have this kind of effect on me and, for this reason alone, I will continue to talk of why this composer is so important to me and my own life.

Okay...I think I'm done now. Have fun!

[springrite]

Poor Delius getting no love!


My tope five:

Brigg Fair
Fennimore and Gerda (Intermezzo)
The Walk to Paradise Garden
La Calinda
Violin Sonata #1 (and #3)

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Poor Delius getting no love!


My tope five:

Brigg Fair
Fennimore and Gerda (Intermezzo)
The Walk to Paradise Garden
La Calinda
Violin Sonata #1 (and #3)

I know, but I'm not a least bit surprised.

[Brian]

Delius is the second-best composer everwhose name ends in -elius.

[springrite]

Delius is the second-best composer everwhose name ends in -elius.

Everyone else tying for first place? 

[Brian]

Everyone else tying for first place? 

Did you read the fine print?

[Christo]

Delius is the second-best composer everwhose name ends in -elius.

[vandermolen]

In a Summer Garden
Piano Concerto
Requiem
North Country Sketches
Paris

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In a Summer Garden
Piano Concerto
Requiem
North Country Sketches
Paris

Thanks for participating, Jeffrey. Excellent choices. Love all of those works.

[vandermolen]

Thanks for participating, Jeffrey. Excellent choices. Love all of those works.

Thanks John 

Could have included the Violin Concerto too.

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Thanks John 

Could have included the Violin Concerto too.

I chose the Violin Concerto but could have easily picked the Piano Concerto or the Double Concerto. I haven't quite connected with the Cello Concerto yet, but it has some lovely moments. Need to revisit that work soon.

[kyjo]

Florida Suite
North Country Sketches
Appalachia
Eventyr
Life's Dance

[André]

Florida Suite
A Village Romeo and Juliet
Sea Drift
Over The Hills and Far Away
Mass of Life (part 2 esp.)

Oooooh this is difficult... Make that 6 or 7 ? 

[kyjo]

Florida Suite
North Country Sketches
Appalachia
Eventyr
Life's Dance

I feel bad for not including one of Delius' choral works on my list - he was a master of choral writing IMO. I find the ending of Appalachia when the chorus joins to be overwhelmingly beautiful. I'm very fond of his Requiem, Songs of Sunset, Sea Drift, as well as his a cappella To be sung of a summer night on the water in addition to the five orchestral works I chose.

[SymphonicAddict]

Florida Suite
Sea Drift
On the Mountains
Appalachia
Paris

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Loving the replies guys --- great lists!

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Florida Suite
Sea Drift
On the Mountains
Appalachia
Paris

On the Mountains...hmm...interesting choice. The best I can remember this is an earlier work. It has a Grieg kind of mood to it, correct? I'll have to dig a recording out as I know it's on something I own.

*I have a quite large Delius collection and I can only imagine the horror of trying to find it, especially if it's buried in some boxes.

[kyjo]

On the Mountains...hmm...interesting choice. The best I can remember this is an earlier work. It has a Grieg kind of mood to it, correct? I'll have to dig a recording out as I know it's on something I own.

Yep, it's an earlier work and not quite characteristic of his mature style - Grieg and Tchaikovsky are the primary influences. Not one of Delius' most compelling works IMO but still enjoyable stuff.

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Yep, it's an earlier work and not quite characteristic of his mature style - Grieg and Tchaikovsky are the primary influences. Not one of Delius' most compelling works IMO but still enjoyable stuff.

Just as I had thought. Thanks for the feedback, Kyle. Nice to see you're a Delian as well. We've got to stick together on here.

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My Top 5 Favorite Delius Works (in no particular):

Songs of Sunset
In a Summer Garden
Violin Concerto
Violin Sonata No. 3
The Song of the High Hills

Believe it or not, I'm still quite content with this list.