Frederick Delius

[cilgwyn]

What's the best book to read on Delius & his music,Johan? And not TOO colossal a tome!
(Or,anyone else,for that matter!)

[Dundonnell]

Nothing wrong with "gloomy"   I like gloom

The opening of the Ravel Left-Hand Concerto opens in dark gloom or sombre mode if you prefer

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Nothing wrong with "gloomy"   I like gloom

The opening of the Ravel Left-Hand Concerto opens in dark gloom or sombre mode if you prefer

Indeed it does. (The main theme always reminds me of Brian's Tenth...) But it gets lighter very soon. Wonderful piece.

[cilgwyn]

Thanks to Johan,in part,I've got my pile of Delius cds next to my easy chair,now! Beecham's (stereo) 'Brigg Fair' is on now. It IS marvellous!

[cilgwyn]

I am REALLY enjoying this music!

I have the recent emi (single cd) of Beechams stereo recordings of Delius,here. No meandering here,as far as I'm concerned (I mean the music,not the post!)

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Hi cilgwyn! If you want to read something about Delius, you could do worse than read the books Beecham and Fenby wrote about him...

[cilgwyn]

Thank you. I shall keep a look out for these books s/h.
While looking on Amazon I was VERY suprised at the lack of recent books about this composer!

I ALSO spotted the recent emi boxed set of Beecham conducting English music. All but one disc devoted to Delius,of course! And the first two are of the stereo recordings. VERY good value INDEED at £9.99 post free!!!
Might be tempted SOON!

You've got me hooked on this!

[cilgwyn]

Hm! The Arkiv review of this set is VERY off putting,especially with respect to the remastering of the mono recordings! Also,the choice of one or two substantial items. I think I might defer on this one! This is often the problem with bargain boxes like this. Awkward cd breaks are another one!
Also,one distinct advantage of the single emi issue is that the opening item is 'Brigg Fair'.The purrrrfect opener!

[Mirror Image]

Erm,I didn't say,'dark & gloomy'? 'Gloomy & disturbing' was what I wrote! And,anyway, I was merely referring to a particular kind of music which I don't particularly enjoy.
Van Goch is a great painter & I love his work. But I wouldn't have (reproductions! ) on the wall,or look at one before going to bed,as the images are very disturbing. It's just an opinion,that's all!
Give me Tournemire,Magnard,Ropartz or Koechlin,any day!

I was referring to my emotional response to the music,anyway. I suppose I should have stated that more clearly. There is certainly nothing intrinsically gloomy about Ravel's music,itself. I just don't like the atmosphere or the textures. No offence intended,MI!

Why would I be offended by your opinion? I was just merely making a comment. We all receive music differently. I certainly won't argue with you about you preferring Koechlin. A fine composer.

[cilgwyn]

And anyone who can orchestrate like that is obviously a genius,anyway,regardless of my emotional response!
And when are we going to get some more Koechlin,I wonder?

[cilgwyn]

Thanks,in part,to Johan's enthusiasm,it's been a Delius marathon all week. And it's still on the cd player,right now!
I can't get enough. The only meandering,as far as I can make out,is when I've had to go upstairs to look for more Delius,and back!
Not sure about Appalachia,though. I've no doubt there's some lovely music there,but it DOES go on a bit!
  A major suprise,this time around,was 'Over the hills & far away'. An early work,I'm given to believe,but a lovely work,full of those inimitable Delian 'fingerprints'. I have listened to both the Mackerras & Beecham (stereo) readings.
  The Florida suite is another lovely work. I don't find the inspiration uneven,at all,as some,apparently,do.

Later on,I will 'brave' Paris,which has always been a little too noisily sub Straussian for me. I think I will enjoy it this time!

At this rate,Delius could be my favourite English composer,after Brian,of course!

The Mackerras 'A Village Romeo & Juliet' is in my 'pile'. One of my favourite English opera's,along with,'The Tiger's (of course! ),'Hugh the Drover' (in the Groves emi recording),'Sir John in Love','The Pilgrims Progress','Peter Grimes' & 'The Rape of Lucretia' (in Britten's own recordings) & Boughton's 'The Immortal Hour',which I have recently begun to enjoy!

I have an off air recording of Delius's 'The Magic Fountain' on cassettes,somewhere,which I must 'dig out'. I think it's 'Scottish opera',but I'm not sure?

[Mirror Image]

And anyone who can orchestrate like that is obviously a genius,anyway,regardless of my emotional response!
And when are we going to get some more Koechlin,I wonder?

There's supposedly a Holliger-led disc of Koechlin orchestrations and other original works coming out sometime this year. I just don't know when it's going to be released. This information comes from one of Koechlin's relatives which I've spoken with on Facebook several times.

[Sandra]

Big fan of his music. There's a characteristic coldness in his works which are kind of noble. Unfortunately, most musicians I have talked with don't like his works... often for the exact same reasons why I do like them

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Not sure about Appalachia,though. I've no doubt there's some lovely music there,but it DOES go on a bit!
  A major suprise,this time around,was 'Over the hills & far away'. An early work,I'm given to believe,but a lovely work,full of those inimitable Delian 'fingerprints'. I have listened to both the Mackerras & Beecham (stereo) readings.
  The Florida suite is another lovely work. I don't find the inspiration uneven,at all,as some,apparently,do.

Later on,I will 'brave' Paris,which has always been a little too noisily sub Straussian for me. I think I will enjoy it this time!

At this rate,Delius could be my favourite English composer,after Brian,of course!

Appalachia is a bit long, I agree, but as a demonstration piece it's excellent - it shows Delius could write anything. There are so many kinds of music there!

Over the Hills and Far Away - love it for the great lyrical passages. The rather boisterous 'frame' is less Delian, and seems to be slightly indebted to Delius' Norwegian friend, the composer Johan Svendsen (if Christopher Palmer is to be believed).


Florida Suite - nothing wrong with it, very appealing, though not major Delius, IMO.


Paris - just as schizophrenic as Over the Hills in the alternation of the energetic and melancholy. I like the opening, the buildup. And the lonely passages are magical.

Big fan of his music. There's a characteristic coldness in his works which are kind of noble. Unfortunately, most musicians I have talked with don't like his works... often for the exact same reasons why I do like them

I wouldn't call his music 'cold'. But it is a lot more aloof and reserved than Mahler's, to name just one heart-on-sleeve contemporary. A pity about those musicians.

[cilgwyn]

Well'it's been a Delian 'marathon' here,for the last couple of days & part of it thanks to you're advocacy,Johan!  I think you might have a convert to the (Delian) cause,here! In fact,the only work I did not particularly enjoy was 'Appalachia',which has some lovely music,but unlike most of Delius's music,which I have listened to so far,DOES meander a bit TOO much for it's own good,imho!

  I also enjoyed 'A Song of the High Hills' in the Eric Fenby Unicorn Kanchana recording. No problem with that here! 'Paris',suddenly 'clicked'.Loved that,too! And,now I have the Piano Concerto on,in the emi recording. I have heard this before,but,crucially,used the program button,so I could give it my full attention,this time around. A lovely work. It may not be Delius at his most characteristic,but it's certainly one of the most beautiful & grandest British/English piano concerto's I'VE listened to!  I suppose I should hear the hyperion recording that everyone raved about. Have you heard it? If so,I wonder what you think of it (or anyone else for that matter). This is REALLY wonderful!

Sea Drift & the choral works next,but no 'Mass of Life'. The emi Groves recording,I want has been deleted for ages & only available from sellers at extortionate prices! Annoying the way emi have developed a nasty habit of re-releasing their recordings now as part of multi cd boxes. Although,I notice that the emi recording of 'A Village Romeo & Juliet' is available again,now (Also emi's Walton's Troilus & Cressida is up for re-release next month! Another one that's been deleted for ages.)

Koanga's another one that should be re-issued!

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Here are 1) the lovely song 'Wine Roses', sung by Sarah Walker with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under Eric Fenby and 2) 'Cynara', with John Shirley-Quirk and Charles Groves conducting the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra...


http://www.mediafire.com/?9by9bttj11316lj


http://www.mediafire.com/?d2zh1fs6fzzme34

[cilgwyn]

Thanks,Johan.
I will have another go at 'Appalachia' later. I SHOULD enjoy it! I remember buying an Lp of it years ago at the market & liking it,then. I shall program it seperately,like the Piano Concerto,which has been on repeat for a while,now! That should do the trick. I remember I was doing things (wearing cordless headphones,albeit Sennheiser's,good ones!). This way,I can give it my full attention.

I Will 'dig out' those off air cassettes of 'The Magic Fountain' as soon as I have the time!

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Thanks,Johan.
I will have another go at 'Appalachia' later. I SHOULD enjoy it! I remember buying an Lp of it years ago at the market & liking it,then. I shall program it seperately,like the Piano Concerto,which has been on repeat for a while,now! That should do the trick. I remember I was doing things (wearing cordless headphones,albeit Sennheiser's,good ones!). This way,I can give it my full attention.

I Will 'dig out' those off air cassettes of 'The Magic Fountain' as soon as I have the time!

I should give the Piano Concerto a listen again (yes, it's the Hyperion with the Ireland concerto too, and if I have the time I'll upload it for you as FLACs). High time I reassess it.

[cilgwyn]

Thank you. I remember taping the Delius Piano Concerto (not the Hyperion) off that request programme they used to have on R3 on Saturday afternoons. They used to feature a less well known work. The programme lasted about two hours & then the rotters took it off (more 'dumbing down')!
I've had this cd for a while now. I quite liked it before,but you're postings here got me listening again,more attentively & in the context of hearing those other works.

Regarding,'Appalachia'. The Lp I had was the Barbirolli. The one I have here is conducted by Mackerras & I am definately enjoying it now. Not too disparage the 'Florida suite',but this is even finer. Glorious music. I was just busy doing things & obviously wasn't paying enough attention. More fool me! There's no chaff here. What I was thinking of? This is one of Delius's most original & varied works. Marvellous! Delius's use of voices is stunning & I'm someone who,frankly,finds some well known English choral works a tad turgid (not that very large one by 'you know who',of course! )
You don't seem so keen on the 'Song of the High Hills'. I enjoyed that,when I put it on,but this is more varied & heartwarming. 'The Song of the high hills' has got some extroadinary writing,though;especially the beginning & the way those voices 'come in').

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Delius's use of voices is stunning & I'm someone who,frankly,finds some well known English choral works a tad turgid (not that very large one by 'you know who',of course! )
You don't seem so keen on the 'Song of the High Hills'. I enjoyed that,when I put it on,but this is more varied & heartwarming. 'The Song of the high hills' has got some extroadinary writing,though;especially the beginning & the way those voices 'come in').

He Who Must Not Be Named, indeed...


Oh, but I do find Song of the High Hills a beautiful work, and that entry of the voices is magical. But there is something about the structure... Delius is more traditional here (with literal repetition of material), and I don't think it suits him. Delius is at his best when the music finds it own form (seemingly) organically.