Today, 29th January,
is the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the birth of
Frederick Delius. I first discovered this composer back in the early 1970’s on a
Decca Eclipse LP. Unlike many people, it was not the First Cuckoo that first impressed
me, but the delicious A Song of Summer.
This was played by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Anthony Collins. Included
on this album was The Walk to Paradise
Garden, Brigg Fair and that
ubiquitous Cuckoo. I soon discovered that there was another Eclispe record that
show-cased Summer Night on the River,
In a Summer Garden and the Nocturne: Paris-Song of a Great City.
In 1973, whilst travelling on the
back of a lorry to my summer job at a builders yard, I heard the Piano Concerto
on Radio Three. It bowled me over. It has remained a favourite ever since.
Five pieces that I have come to
love over the years. Any of them could be a ‘Desert Island Disc.’
1. A
Song of Summer
2. Piano
Concerto
3. In
a Summer Garden
4. Summer
Evening
5. Summer
Night on the River.
For anyone wanting an introduction
to Delius’ music I could recommend nothing better that Sir Thomas Beecham’s recordings
on EMI. The piano concerto is available in a number of recordings including the
original version on Hyperion.
2 comments:
On the back of a lorry listening to Delius? I hope you listened to Hendrix as well. My favourite was the cello concerto which Jacqueline recorded on EMI. I saw her play at the Festival Hall. I also owned A Mass of Life which my mates got sick of and moulded into ash trays. I was also a fan of Debussy (La Mer, Images, Iberia)and Stravinsky (Rite of Spring, Firebird) and the painters of course. Was this done by Vincent?
James Westaway - Auckland
Hendrix then and now. Zepp too!
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