Frederick Delius

[kyjo]

I'm joking, Kyle.

OK, just making sure.

[Mirror Image]

Time to resurrect this thread from the ashes.

[Mirror Image]

For those interested, and haven't seen it, someone uploaded the BBC documentary about Delius on YT:

http://www.youtube.com/v/uTVhBhPzPQA

An enlightening documentary. One of the flaws of the film was the decision not to discuss the Eric Fenby years in any more detail than what was mentioned only in a brief passing.

[kyjo]

Hey John, what do you think of the Five Danish Songs, orchestrated by Bo Holten and recorded by Danacord? It's actually one of my favorite Delius works-Delius writes so beautifully for the male voice and Holten's orchestration is incredibly lush yet not overbearing.

[kyjo]

Cross-posted from the "Little Things that Annoy You" thread:

Delius' "bluesy" harmonies are certainly wonderful and often times haunting. One Delius work I haven't warmed to yet is the PC, which is unusual since I love late-romantic PCs. The Two Pieces for Small Orchestra, which are Delius' most popular works, also fail to engage me, ironically. One more random comment: That moment when the a cappella chorus enters near the end of Appalachia is so beautiful. As I've stated before, I'm usually not one for a cappella music, but there's something about an unaccompanied chorus entering after half an hour of orchestral music that is really special.

[Mirror Image]

Thanks for your detailed response! Yes, Delius' "bluesy" harmonies are certainly wonderful and often times haunting. One Delius work I haven't warmed to yet is the PC, which is unusual since I love late-romantic PCs. The Two Pieces for Small Orchestra, which are Delius' most popular works, also fail to engage me, ironically. One more random comment: That moment when the a cappella chorus enters near the end of Appalachia is so beautiful. As I've stated before, I'm usually not one for a cappella music, but there's something about an unaccompanied chorus entering after half an hour of orchestral music that is really special.

I love the Two Pieces for Orchestra only because I've heard one performance that seduced me: Norman del Mar/Bournemouth Sinfonietta on Chandos. I swear that you've never heard Summer Night on the River played this way with such an aura of mystery and something more sinister lurking below. The Piano Concerto, like all of Delius' concertante works, are nothing more than long rhapsodies, but oh how glorious all of them are! I own, and have heard, all of the PC performances on record but the one that sticks out most in my mind is Philip Fowke (originally issued on Unicorn but reissued in the Delius Heritage set). Such utter mastery from Fowke and the ongoing musical narrative was handled with complete confidence. Nothing but clear lines and such a vivid performance interpretatively. My favorite Appalachia is Barbirolli's, but there are some aspects of Hickox's that I admire more, especially in the overall delivery, but I think Barbirolli gets to the heart of the work in a much more compelling way. Speaking of a cappella have you heard To Be Sung of a Summer Night on the Water?

[kyjo]

I love the Two Pieces for Orchestra only because I've heard one performance that seduced me: Norman del Mar/Bournemouth Sinfonietta on Chandos. I swear that you've never heard Summer Night on the River played this way with such an aura of mystery and something more sinister lurking below. The Piano Concerto, like all of Delius' concertante works, are nothing more than long rhapsodies, but oh how glorious all of them are! I own, and have heard, all of the PC performances on record but the one that sticks out most in my mind is Philip Fowke (originally issued on Unicorn but reissued in the Delius Heritage set). Such utter mastery from Fowke and the ongoing musical narrative was handled with complete confidence. Nothing but clear lines and such a vivid performance interpretatively. My favorite Appalachia is Barbirolli's, but there are some aspects of Hickox's that I admire more, especially in the overall delivery, but I think Barbirolli gets to the heart of the work in a much more compelling way. Speaking of a cappella have you heard To Be Sung of a Summer Night on the Water?

You are clearly more knowledgeable about the different recordings of Delius' music than I am! I appreciate your recommendations. I haven't heard To Be Sung of a Summer Night on the Water yet. I really love Delius' choral writing BTW. His Songs of Sunset contain some of the most beautiful choral writing I've ever heard!

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You are clearly more knowledgeable about the different recordings of Delius' music than I am! I appreciate your recommendations. I haven't heard To Be Sung of a Summer Night on the Water yet. I really love Delius' choral writing BTW. His Songs of Sunset contain some of the most beautiful choral writing I've ever heard!

Well, Delius is a composer I've dabbled with. Anyway, love Songs of Sunset as well as Songs of Sunrise. Of course, I love Sea Drift much more now than I did say four years ago. I've pretty much devoured Delius' complete oeuvre. From rare works like The Magic Fountain, Poems of Life and Love, or Hiawatha to the more well-known works. If you have any questions, I'll be happy to help you as I'm sure Johan or cilgwyn will as well.

[kyjo]

Well, Delius is a composer I've dabbled with. Anyway, love Songs of Sunset as well as Songs of Sunrise. Of course, I love Sea Drift much more now than I did say four years ago. I've pretty much devoured Delius' complete oeuvre. From rare works like The Magic Fountain, Poems of Life and Love, or Hiawatha to the more well-known works. If you have any questions, I'll be happy to help you as I'm sure Johan or cilgwyn will as well.

Excellent! I plan on listening to some Delius tonight, I'm just not sure what.

What is it with you and not answering my questions tonight? See my question about the Five Danish Songs above.

[Mirror Image]

Hey John, what do you think of the Five Danish Songs, orchestrated by Bo Holten and recorded by Danacord? It's actually one of my favorite Delius works-Delius writes so beautifully for the male voice and Holten's orchestration is incredibly lush yet not overbearing.

Okay, well now I see this question. I do like Five Danish Songs, but I like An Arabesque, for example, much more. Bo Holten's orchestration is quite nice, but I take these kinds of orchestrations with a grain of salt. While I feel the music is quite good, I never can fully appreciate it. I mean, after all, the orchestration wasn't written by the composer himself, so, without question, I'm much more interested in what the composer would have done with the music. Anyway, it's a nice little work, but not very substantial in my view.

Next question.

[Mirror Image]

My obsession for Delius goes beyond the actual music and into physical memorabilia. I actually own a rare Royal Mail postcard of Delius and not to mention many OOP magazines like Gramophone and BBC Music that featured large articles on the composer. He was actually on the front cover of Gramophone magazine February 2012. I wouldn't mind even getting a t-shirt made. How unhip would I be walking around in a Delius t-shirt? My guess is if the shirt doesn't get ruined by the end of the day, then I did pretty good.

[kyjo]

Listened to a couple songs from the EMI box just now: Twilight Fancies, To be Sung of a Summer Night on the Water, Wanderer's Song, and Sondheim's orchestration of Heimkehr. Simply beautiful, especially To be Sung....! Again, Delius' writing for voice is exquisite.

[Mirror Image]

Listened to a couple songs from the EMI box just now: Twilight Fancies, To be Sung of a Summer Night on the Water, Wanderer's Song, and Sondheim's orchestration of Heimkehr. Simply beautiful, especially To be Sung....! Again, Delius' writing for voice is exquisite.

I enjoy a wide spectrum of Delius' oeuvre, but, I agree, he had a gift for the human voice. Thankfully, his orchestral music is just as inspired.

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Kyle be sure to read through this thread. There's lots of valuable information here.

[J]

Well, Delius is a composer I've dabbled with. Anyway, love Songs of Sunset as well as Songs of Sunrise.

Huh, - "Songs of Sunrise"?  We can only wish there were.

[The new erato]

I think it is a misprint for Songs of Surprise.

[kyjo]

Listened to the Cello Sonata from the EMI set just now, with Moray Welsh on cello and Israela Margalit on piano. It's a passionate yet overall subdued work, and the ending is particularly wonderful.

[Mirror Image]

Listened to the Cello Sonata from the EMI set just now, with Moray Welsh on cello and Israela Margalit on piano. It's a passionate yet overall subdued work, and the ending is particularly wonderful.

The Cello Sonata is a fine work. One of my dreams is to see Julian Lloyd Webber and Piers Lane perform this work live. You never know it could happen!

[Sammy]

Surprised the heck out of me to discover that there's an internet radio station that plays only Delius.  Can you believe it?

[Mirror Image]

Surprised the heck out of me to discover that there's an internet radio station that plays only Delius.  Can you believe it?

That's quite surprising. I honestly don't know if I could listen to Delius all day long now, but in doses I'm fine. I wonder what country this station is located in? Any idea?