Frederick Delius

[Szykneij]

May I suggest some Delius works that are not among "the ususal suspects"? Try the violin sonatas. They are delightly. They are the only works by Delius that Vanessa loves. If they are good enough for Vanessa, surely Harry would love them as well!

It's been quite a while since this recommendation was made, but I finally got around to listening to Delius's "Sonatas for Violin and Piano" and I agree they're delightful. I enjoyed Nos. 1 and 2, composed in 1914 and 1915 respectively, but Sonata No. 3 made a greater impression by far. A much more mature work, it was written in 1930 after Delius had become blind and paralyzed. He composed this and other late works by dictation with the help of volunteer Eric Fenby.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

For one reason or another I have always given Delius's chamber works a miss. I must redress that!

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For one reason or another I have always given Delius's chamber works a miss. I must redress that!

I'm going to correct this as well. I think there's an EMI 2-CD set that has all of Delius' sonatas for violin on it and some other chamber works as well.

Edit: Okay, it has the three violin sonatas but not the one was published after Delius' death. The other works in this set are arrangements for small orchestra and a work for string orchestra with Eric Fenby conducting. Here's the link:

[asin]B000HKD7S0[/asin]

I'm not sure how the performances are but the audio samples sounded quite nice. I think I'll pull the trigger on this one.

[mjwal]

I think you'll find the Tasmin Little/Piers Lane CD of the 4 violin sonatas very superior.

[Scarpia]

I think you'll find the Tasmin Little/Piers Lane CD of the 4 violin sonatas very superior.

I have this one, but don't recall ever finding the time to listen

[Lethevich]

I like those Tasmin Little recordings too, but the composer's music is well-represented on disc. the Unicorn recordings with Ralph Holmes were very good as well. Then there's the Naxos recordings with Susanne Stanzeleit (of the Maggini Quartet) also (which I have not heard, but everything she records is wonderful)!

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I think you'll find the Tasmin Little/Piers Lane CD of the 4 violin sonatas very superior.

I'm sure it is as Piers Lane and Tasmin Little are both advocates of Delius' music. There's many options available to the perspective buyers.

[Mirror Image]

Some very exciting news from the Delius front. Chandos will be releasing another Andrew Davis led orchestral recording, but this time Tasmin Little and Paul Watkins will take us on a journey some of Delius's concerti: the Violin Concerto, Double Concerto, and the Cello Concerto. This should be an excellent recording as Tasmin Little breathes Delius's music. I'm not sure about Paul Watkins, but what little I've heard his playing, he should be good.

[Mirror Image]

Delius box set alert!!!

EMI and Decca will be releasing two 150th Anniversary box sets:

[asin]B005RXKKQO[/asin]

[asin]B005SBR76Q[/asin]

[Lethevich]

Erm, do want!! Especially the Decca, as it won't include the stone age-sounding Beecham recordings *hides*

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Erm, do want!! Especially the Decca, as it won't include the stone age-sounding Beecham recordings *hides*

Found you! 


Nice boxes, indeed!

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Erm, do want!! Especially the Decca, as it won't include the stone age-sounding Beecham recordings *hides*

I own most of the recordings in both boxes, so I'll probably not be getting them. I don't like the Beecham Delius recordings because of their audio quality hinderance. The performances, as far as I can tell, are great, but these recordings are only for historical purposes. The only reason the EMI set looks tempting to me is for the opera Koanga, which is the only complete recording of this opera that I know of.

[madaboutmahler]

Delius box set alert!!!

EMI and Decca will be releasing two 150th Anniversary box sets:

[asin]B005RXKKQO[/asin]

[asin]B005SBR76Q[/asin]

Am instantly excited! To the Christmas wishlist they go! 
Will probably go for the Decca one - love Mackerras' way with Delius!

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Am instantly excited! To the Christmas wishlist they go! 
Will probably go for the Decca one - love Mackerras' way with Delius!

Yes, Daniel. Mackerras was excellent in Delius's music.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Frederick Delius was born 150 years ago today. Long may his music live!

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Frederick Delius was born 150 years ago today. Long may his music live!

Absolutely, Johann. Clearly Delius was an underrated composer, but he was also an unacknowledged innovator too. He was using jazz harmonies before jazz was even created. He composed the first Black opera Koanga (1895), which predates Gershwin's Porgy & Bess (1935) by 40 years. The man just isn't given enough credit and I think it's a shame.

Happy Birthday Freddy!

[johnshade]

I am a native of north Florida and have several recordings of Delius. This is my favorite Delius especially the Florida Suite. It is truly a great CD.

Delius based his Florida Suite, composed in 1887, on native American music and African-American spirituals. Dvorak's Symphony #9, From the New World, was composed after the Florida Suite in 1893. I believe that the Florida Suite is equally as delightful as Dvorak's symphony. The Florida Suite is influenced by the native music Delius heard while living on an orange grove near Jacksonville, Florida.

(Very good essay on Delius in February Gramophone Magazine.)
Delius's cottage on the St. Johns River near Jacksonville
SOLANO GROVE, FLORIDA

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Thought I would revive this thread by saying that I'm making my way through the EMI 150th Anniversary box and I'm finding some hidden gems that I have never heard like Hassan, which is incidental music, and A Song of the High Hills. Both are gorgeous compositions and completely new to me. I am also looking forward to digging into the opera Koanga and Cynara. I've loved this composer for a long time and this box set is rekindling that love and admiration I've had.

Delius fans buy the EMI box! It doesn't contain but two discs with Beecham, Lethe. These two discs (one an orchestral and the other one featuring songs w/ orchestra) don't sound as bad as you think. Anyway, it would be nice to get Johan in on this set too. Here are the contents of the box:
   
Sleigh Ride
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham
Marche Caprice
ed. & arr. Beecham
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham
Over the hills and far away
ed. Beecham
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham
Dance Rhapsody No. 2
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham
Dance Rhapsody No. 1
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham
On the mountains
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham
The Walk to the Paradise Garden
London Symphony Orchestra, Sir John Barbirolli
A Song of Summer
London Symphony Orchestra, Sir John Barbirolli
Irmelin Prelude
London Symphony Orchestra, Sir John Barbirolli
Late Swallows
Hallé Orchestra, Sir John Barbirolli
Appalachia (Variations on an old slave song)
(includes rehearsal footage)
Ambrosian Singers, Hallé Orchestra, Sir John Barbirolli
Paris - Song of a Great City
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras
In a Summer Garden
Hallé Orchestra, Vernon Handley
Two Pieces For Small Orchestra
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Vernon Handley
Fennimore and Gerda: Intermezzo
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Vernon Handley
Piano Concerto in C minor
Piers Lane (piano)
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Vernon Handley
Florida Suite
Revised and edited by Sir Thomas Beecham
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox
Brigg Fair
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox
Summer Evening
arr. Beecham
Northern Sinfonia of England, Richard Hickox
Koanga: La Calinda
arr. Fenby
Northern Sinfonia of England, Richard Hickox
Air and Dance
Northern Sinfonia of England, Richard Hickox
Hassan: Intermezzo & Serenade
arr. Beecham
Northern Sinfonia of England, Richard Hickox
Aquarelles (2)
arr. Fenby
The Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Sir Neville Marriner
Lebenstanz
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Charles Groves
North Country Sketches
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Charles Groves
Sea Drift
John Noble (baritone)
Liverpool Philharmonic Choir, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Charles Groves
Cynara
John Shirley-Quirk (baritone)
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Charles Groves
Violin Concerto
Yehudi Menuhin (violin)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Meredith Davies
Double Concerto for Violin and Cello
Yehudi Menuhin (violin), Paul Tortelier (cello)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Meredith Davies
Cello Concerto
Jacqueline du Pré (cello)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Malcolm Sargent
Dance
arr. Eric Fenby
Bournemouth Sinfonietta, Eric Fenby
Koanga: La Calinda
arr. Eric Fenby
Elena Duran (flute)
Bournemouth Sinfonietta, Eric Fenby
Air and Dance
arr. Eric Fenby
Elena Duran (flute)
Bournemouth Sinfonietta, Eric Fenby
Five Little Pieces
arr. Eric Fenby
Bournemouth Sinfonietta, Eric Fenby
Sonata for string orchestra
arr. Eric Fenby
Bournemouth Sinfonietta, Eric Fenby
String Quartet (1916)
Britten Quartet
Violin Sonata No. 1 in E major
Yehudi Menuhin (violin), Eric Fenby (piano)
Violin Sonata No. 2
Yehudi Menuhin (violin), Eric Fenby (piano)
Violin Sonata No. 3
Yehudi Menuhin (violin), Eric Fenby (piano)
Legende
Tasmin Little (violin), John Lenehan (piano)
Cello Sonata
Moray Welsh (cello), Israela Margalit (piano)
Dance
Igor Kipnis (harpsichord)
Twilight Fancies
Ian Bostridge (tenor), Julius Drake (piano)
To be sung of a summer night on the water, No. 1
(wordless)
Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Sir Philip Ledger
Wanderer's Song
Baccholian Singers of London
The Homeward Way
Marjorie Thomas (mezzo)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham
Twilight Fancies
orch. Beecham
Elsie Suddaby (soprano)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham
Whither (Autumn)
orch. Beecham
Elsie Suddaby (soprano)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham
The Violet
orch. Gibson
Elsie Suddaby (soprano)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham
Whither (Autumn)
Dora Labbette (soprano)
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham
The Violet
Dora Labbette (soprano)
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham
I-Brasîl
Dora Labbette (soprano)
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham
Young Venevil
sung in German
Dora Labbette (soprano)
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham
Twilight Fancies
Dora Labbette (soprano), Sir Thomas Beecham (piano)
Cradle song
Dora Labbette (soprano), Sir Thomas Beecham (piano)
The Nightingale (from Five Songs from the Norwegian)
Dora Labbette (soprano), Sir Thomas Beecham (piano)
Irmelin Rose from Seven Danish Songs
Dora Labbette (soprano), Gerald Moore (piano)
So white, so soft, so sweet is she from Four Old English Lyrics
Dora Labbette (soprano), Gerald Moore (piano)
Le ciel est, par-dessus le toit
Dora Labbette (soprano), Gerald Moore (piano)
La lune blanche
Dora Labbette (soprano), Gerald Moore (piano)
To the queen of my heart (from Three Shelley Songs)
Heddle Nash (tenor), Gerald Moore (piano)
Love's Philosophy (from Three Shelley Songs)
Heddle Nash (tenor), Gerald Moore (piano)
Caprice & Elegy
Beatrice Harrison (cello)
Chamber Orchestra, Eric Fenby
Eventyr (once upon a time)
Hallé Orchestra, Vernon Handley
Hassan - incidental music
Martyn Hill (tenor), Brian Rayner Cook (baritone)
Bournemouth Sinfonietta, Bournemouth Sinfonietta Choir, Vernon Handley
Songs of Sunset
Dame Janet Baker (mezzo), John Shirley-Quirk (baritone)
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Liverpool Philharmonic Choir, Sir Charles Groves
An Arabesque
John Shirley-Quirk (baritone)
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Liverpool Philharmonic Choir, Sir Charles Groves
A Mass of Life
Heather Harper (soprano), Helen Watts (contralto), Robert Tear (tenor), Benjamin Luxon (baritone)
London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir, Sir Charles Groves
Requiem
Heather Harper (soprano), John Shirley-Quirk (baritone)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Choral Society, Meredith Davies
Idyll 'Once I passed through a populous city'
Heather Harper (soprano), John Shirley-Quirk (baritone)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Meredith Davies
A Song before sunrise
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Malcolm Sargent
Songs of Farewell
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Choral Society, Sir Malcolm Sargent
Koanga
Eugene Holmes (Koanga), Claudia Lindsey (Palmyra), Raimund Herincx (Don José Martinez), Keith Erwen (Simon Perez), Jean Allister (Clotilda), Simon Estes (Rangwan)
London Symphony Orchestra, John Alldis Choir, Sir Charles Groves
A Song of the High Hills
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Liverpool Philharmonic Choir, Sir Charles Groves
A Village Romeo and Juliet
Benjamin Luxon (Manz), Noel Mangin (Marti), Colin Manley (Sali - as a child), Wendy Eathorne (Vrenchen - as a child), Elizabeth Harwood (Vrenchen), Robert Tear (Sali), John Shirley-Quirk (The Dark Fiddler)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, John Alldis Choir, Meredith Davies
Fennimore and Gerda
Elisabeth Söderström (Fennimore, Gerda), Brian Rayner Cook (Niels Lyhne), Robert Tear (Erik Refstrup)
Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Danish Radio Chorus, Meredith Davies

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Here I am! The contents of that EMI box are excellent. I know many, if not most of the recordings. Sir Charles Groves is really underestimated as a Delian - his Sea-Drift and Mass of Life, for example, are excellent. Beecham and Barbirolli are great, too, of course. Anyone who wants to get to know Delius, can't go wrong with this box!

[Mirror Image]

Here I am! The contents of that EMI box are excellent. I know many, if not most of the recordings. Sir Charles Groves is really underestimated as a Delian - his Sea-Drift and Mass of Life, for example, are excellent. Beecham and Barbirolli are great, too, of course. Anyone who wants to get to know Delius, can't go wrong with this box!

That's true, Johan. Groves gets no respect! A shame really. I own several of the recordings out of this box, but there was a good bit in it that I didn't own and haven't even heard. My Delius collection has just increased by 18 discs. The Decca box looks pretty good too, but I own almost all of the recordings with Mackerras, so really didn't need it plus it's only 8-CDs which seems kind of disappointing. I thought Decca had more Delius recordings in their archive than 8 discs worth.

Johan, let me ask you, why do you think Delius is so unappreciated not only on this forum but abroad?