Frederick Delius: Topics 1997

Updated: Nov 6, 1997

The Delius Society Journal Eric Fenby Tribute Issue Autumn 1997, Vol.121.
Janos Starker plays Delius
Elgar, Walton Cello Concertos, Delius Caprice & Elegy, RCA BMG Classics 09026-61695-2, 1997
1. Elgar : Cello Concerto
2. Walton : Cello Concerto
3. Delius : Caprice & Elegy (arr. Eric Fenby)
- Janos Starker : vlc
- Philharmonia Orchestra
- Leonard Slatkin
- Recorded May 21-23, 1992, at Studio 1, Abbey Road, London
- notes by Michael Stewart
mmm... Starker suits Walton than Elgar or Delius?
Grainger's Arrangements for Piano
Percy Grainger 'Dished up for piano', The Complete Piano Music, Nimbus NI1767, 1997, (5 CD set) including
- Air and Dance
- A Dance Rhapsody (No. 1) (for 2 pianos) *
Martin Jones (* Richard McMahon) : pf
Music by Eric Fenby
Mr. Bill Thompson taught me:
- Rossini on Ilkla Moor for Orchestra
- For Music on the Eve of Palm Sunday for Choir
- Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis for Choir
Play Delius on Piano
"20th Century Classics", Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers Limited, 1991.
This series for Piano solo, duet include Delius materials.
- 20th Century Classics, vol. I for Piano Solo, 8103
  Serenade from Hassan
- 20th Century Classics, vol. II for Piano Solo, 8106
  The Walk to the Paradise Garden from A Village Romeo and Juliet
- 20th Century Classics, vol. I for Piano Duet, 8478
  Prelude from Irmalin
- 20th Century Classics, vol. II for Piano Duet, 8779
  On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring
Arranged for piano by Roger Brison, and items of Delius suggested by Robert Threlfall.
Official Delius Society Web Site!
I've just found Delius website <http://www.delius.org.uk/>
Some disks from EMI British Composers
- Sir Charles Groves A Mass Of Life, Songs Of Sunset, EMI CMS 7642182, (2 CD set), ｣16.00
- Richard Hickox Miniatures, EMI CDM 5650672, ｣8.00
- Sir John Barbirolli Orchestral Works, EMI CMS 5651192, (2 CD set), ｣16.00
- Yehudi Menuhin, Boult, Davies Delius & Elgar: Violin Concertos, EMI CDM 7647252, ｣8.00
- Meredith Davies Fennimore & Gerda, EMI CDM 5663142, ｣8.00
- Britten Quartet Delius & Howells: String Quartets, EMI CDC 5553492, ｣11.00
- Noble, Groves, Luxon, Del Mar Sea Drift; Stanford : Songs Of The Sea, Songs Of The Fleet, EMI CDM 5651132, ｣8.00
Official Delius Society Web Site?
The Delius Society Journal says:
By the time you read this, the Delius Website on the Internet will be registered and almost operational...
It seems contains
1. How to use the Delius Website
2. Biography
3. The Delius Trust
4. Bibliography
5. Discography
6. Collected Works
7. The Delius Society
8. Special Features
ok. But I can't find the URL on this journal. Does anyone know it?
New Release of Richard Hickox conducts "A Mass of Life" and "Requiem" for Chandos!

Delius A Mass of Life, Requiem, Chandos CHAN9515(2), 1997, (2 CD set)
1. Requiem (30'52")
  1. 'Our days here are as one day...' (8'44")
  2. 'Hallelujah...' (5'13")
  3. 'My beloved whom I cherished was like a flower...' (4'02")
  4. 'I honour the man who can love life...' (4'42")
  5. 'The snow lingers yet on the mountains...' (8'11")
2. A Mass of Life (98'27")
  1. First Part (32'36")
  2. Secont Part (65'51")
Rebecca Evans, Joan Rodgers : sop
Jean Rigby : mez-sop
Nigel Robson : ten
Peter Coleman-Wright : bar
Waynflete Singers, Bournemouth Symphony Chorus
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Richard Hickox

see also Reviews Gramophone May 1997, Vol.74, No.888., pp.95-98., or p.25. (Mr. G. Jeffrey Gower taught me this news by e-mail.)
Eugene Ormandy conducts Delius on Philadelphia Orchestra

RVW, Delius Works for Orchestra, Sony SBK62645, 1996
1. Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis (14'30")
2. Fantasia on Greensleeves from Sir John in Love (4'57")
3. The Lark Ascending (Louis Lane conducts Cleaveland Sinfonietta) (14'40")
  Delius
4. Brigg Fair (14'43")
5. A Dance Rhapsody (7'41")
6. On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring (6'06")
7. In s Summer Garden (11'06")
I remembered "Brigg Fair" was on old CBS vinyl, but it's the first time I've seen others. Is it the first experience in Japan? Thanks to Sony.

The Perfomances are gorgeous. But the tempo of "On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring" and "In s Summer Garden" are too fast?

NAXOS Delius: Orchstral Works

Delius Orchstral Works, Naxos 8.553535, Dec, 1996.
1. Florida Suite
  1. Daybrak - Dance (11'43")
  2. By the River (7'07")
  3. Sunset - Near the Plantation (10'11")
  4. At Night (8'05")
2. Over the Hills and Far Away (13'32")
3. Idylle Printemps (World Premiere Recording!) (8'00")
4. La Quadroöne (World Premiere Recording!) (4'05")
5. Scherzo (World Premiere Recording!) (5'50")
6. Final Scene from "Koanga" (10'32") *
David Lloyd-Jones conducts English Northern Philharmonia
Susannnah Glanville, Susan Lees, Irene Evans: sop *
Sandra Francis, Sue Pearce, Shirley Thomas: mez-sop *

Have you listened to? If never, you should lisnten to! It's GREAT! Florida Suite is Original Score (1886 - 1887)? You should know there is a different flavor from Sir Thomas's familiar performance.

Here are Japanese notes:

世界初録音が 3 曲も!　ファンにも初心者にもまずこの 1 枚
ディーリアスの音楽がまだ眠っていました!　世界初録音の 3 曲は、ディーリアスの演奏史に名を残す指揮者ビーチャムの遺産から発見され、ディーリアス協会がこれらの演奏をロイド・ジョーンズに託したのです。作曲者自身もついに耳にしえなかった作品が今ここにナクソスで蘇ります。ディーリアスを初めて聴く方は組曲『フロリダ』や『丘を越えて遥かに』を是非お聴きください。一聴、風景の香りと色が漂う音楽に魅了されること請け合いです。

世界初録音が 3 曲も!　ファンにも初心者にもまずこの 1 枚

ディーリアスの音楽がまだ眠っていました!　世界初録音の 3 曲は、ディーリアスの演奏史に名を残す指揮者ビーチャムの遺産から発見され、ディーリアス協会がこれらの演奏をロイド・ジョーンズに託したのです。作曲者自身もついに耳にしえなかった作品が今ここにナクソスで蘇ります。ディーリアスを初めて聴く方は組曲『フロリダ』や『丘を越えて遥かに』を是非お聴きください。一聴、風景の香りと色が漂う音楽に魅了されること請け合いです。

Other Delius CD on NAXOS (and Marco Polo)

English Festival, Naxos 8.550229, 1991., Adrian Leaper, CSR Symphony Orchestra
1. Brigg Fair
2. In a Summer Garden
English String Music, Naxos 8.550823, ?., Richard Studt, Bournemouth Sinfonietta
1. Two aquarelles (To be sung of a Summer Night on the Water)
Delius, Naxos 8.553001, 1995?., Myer Fredman, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
1. Paris (23'03")
2. Brigg Fair (15'45")
3. Eventyr (15'29")
4. Irmelin Prelude (5'07")
5. La Calinda (3'49")
American Rhapsody, Marco Polo 8.220452, 1987., John Hopkins, Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Bratislava
1. Paa Vidderne (15'15")
2. Spring Morning (3 Small Tone Poem No.3) (8'20")
3. Norwegian Suite
  1. Prelude Bewegt (3'03")
  2. Lustig Bewegt (5'09")
  3. Allegro Energico (7'13")
  4. March Lento Solenne (8'10")
  5. Melodrama Music (1'27")
4. American Rhapsody (9'49")

cheers for NAXOS!

1997 Label of the Year
Cannes Classical Awards

Danville Delius Festival (in Danville, VA): May 29 - June 1, 1997
EMI has just re-issued the "Fennimore and Gerda" on CD!!!
- Delius Fennimore and Gerda, Meredith Davies, etc. EMI CDM 5 66314 2, 1997
  - Fennimore, Gerda : Elisabeth Söderström
  - Niels Lyhne : Brian Rayner Cook
  - Erik Refstrup : Robert Tear
  - Consul Claudi : Birger Brandt
  - Mrs Claudi : Hedvig Rummel
  - A Sportsman : Mogens Berg
  - A Town Councillor, A Distiller : Peter Fog
  - A Tutor : Michael W. Hansen
  - Councillor Skinnerup : Hans Christian Hansen
  - Ingrid : Bodil Kongsted
  - Lila : Ingeborg Junghans
  - Marit, A Lady : Kirsten Buhl-Møller
  - A Voice across the Water : Anthony Rolfe Johnson
  - A Maidsevant : Eva Tamulenas
  - Danish Radio Chorus
  - Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra
  - Meredith Davies
  note by Eric Fenby. including English version Libretto by Phillip Heseltine. Originally Analog release 1976.
S'wonderful, marvelous magical texture!

conductor: Meredith Davies.
We all know his A Village Romeo and Juliet (released in Japan, Sep 20, 1978).

Does anybody know about Delius' opera CD? I have A Village Romeo and Juliet, Margot la rouge, The Magic Fountain, and Fennimore and Gerda, only.
Eugene Ormandy conducts Delius
CBS SBK62645 (?)

I have not known that Eugene Ormandy conducts Delius on Philadelphia Orchestra execpt Brigg Fair. check Mr. YOKOTA Kenji's Discography of Eugene Ormandy (1899-1985).
- Brigg Fair (Apr 8, 1962)
- A Dance Rhapsody No.2 (Nov 2, 1961)
- On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring (Mar 11, 1962)
- In a Summer Garden (Nov 20, 1960)
Above site says: all Ormandy's Delius are available on CD.

Well, have you heard John Williams conducts Delius on The Boston Pops?
- John Williams and The Boston Pops Pops Britania, Phlips 420 946-2 (28CD1006 (Japan)), 1988.
1. Brigg Fair (15'50")
other composers are Walton, Grainger, RVW, Maxwell Davies,, etc.
Do you know any other NEW EAR conducter's Delius?
Kate Bush around the moody old man: from Gaffaweb
- In December 1980
  To be sung of a Summer Night on the Water
  In December 1980, appearing on BBC Radio One with Paul Gambaccini, Kate played the Choir of Kings College, Cambridge recording of the Delius composition To be sung of a Summer Night on the Water.
- Kate Bush NfE Interview EMI (London) 1980
  Kate Discusses Never For Ever
  
  － From "Babooshka" we mix literally quite nicely into "Delius (Song of Summer)" and this is the one which contains references I must confess I don't understand. I don't know who Delius was or for that matter what Fenby is?
  
  Delius was an incredible classical composer, an English one, he was from Bradford, I think and he was Fred, Frederick Delius. He was a wonderful composer and he in fact got neurosyphilis, which completely ruined his body; he became totally paralysed and he could no longer play the piano or write his music. I don't know whether he was a very bad tempered man before, but during his illness he became bad tempered. From that time on he lived his life in a wheelchair and he needed someone to write his music for him. For years he kept getting young writers coming along who'd meet him and sit down and try to transcribe his writing, but he had no voice. He couldn't sing. He had no pitch in his voice, no real sense of timing. He would sit there and just grunt like going aargh, aargh, and the writer would just not know where to start. He didn't know what key it was in, the time signature, what notes the guy was ginging. And Delius would not tell him, he'd just say write it down. All these guys ran away, they couldn't take it, it was too much. One day a gentleman called Eric Fenby (who is in the song) turned up. He tried to get through this barrier until eventually he could understand everything Delius was saying. Fenby stayed with him until his death and he wrote all his music out for him. Through Fenby, Delius' music came alive again. It was such a beautiful concept - this man whose body was almost completely useless and yet inside him all this life and colour and freedom. It was only through Mr. Fenby that it could come out. It's such a beautiful story, he really need a song.
  # Have you researched before inteview?
Richard Hickox stands firm
Mr. G. Jeffrey Gower brings other GREAT NEWS again!
- Richard Hickox is just recording "Fennimore and Gerda" supported the Delius Trust, to be done in Copenhagen in May.
- He will be recording the "Seven Danish Songs" in their orchestral versions, and also "Arabesque".
New wine and old wine
Mr. Jeff Gower brings GREAT NEWS!
- Richard Hickox has recorded "A Mass of Life" and "Requiem" for Chandos
- EMI is re-issuing the "Fennimore and Gerda" on CD
"Fennimore and Gerda" is Meredith Davies RPO? --> Mr. G. Jeffrey Gower answers "The re-issue is indeed Meredith Davies recording of "Fennimore and Gerda" ".
Hmm... You must re-issue Meredith Davies' "A Village Romeo and Juliet" on CD, EMI!
Farewell Mr. Fenby
He has passed through a populous city to Delius. What's talking about with Delius above us, Mr. Fenby?
You will be staying alive in our soul.
Classics from Progressive Rock vol. IV
Do you know british rock band Renaissance and their lead vocalist Annie Haslam ? Annie Haslam released solo album "Still Life" (One Way Records OW32190, 1985). In this solo album she sings famous classic theme (Tchaikovsky, Bach, Faure, etc) with Lyrics on RPO. She sings Delius's "La Calinda" as "Skaila", track 10.

In Japan, London label released 5 cds titled "Classics from Progressive Rock". They are collections of original tunes coverd by ELP, Keith Emerson, Nice, Yes, Rick Wakeman, Zappa, Sky, Doors, Sting and Renaissance, Annie Haslam
- Omnibus Classics from Progressive Rock vol. IV: Renaissance / Annie Haslam, London POCL4160, Jan 25, 1997.
1. La Calinda (performed by Neville Marriner ASMF)
Other materials of Delius from Rock side:
1. Kate Bush Song of Summer (Delius),
  in "Nevermore" EMI, 1980
  I think this is the most famous Rock Tune about Delius. Also Her Video Tracks "Delius" is beautiful.
2. In the Nursely Anatomy of a Poet (Delius), Third Mind TM8976-2, 1994.
  
  This album doesn't have direct references about Delius. But titles like "Anatomy of a Poet - text from 'Cynara'", "The Golden Journey - text from 'Hassan'" gave me suggestion for Delius. :-)

NISHIHARA Satoshi, < mail me >

Created: Jan 1, 1997