Delius: Air and Dance - Northern Philharmonia.

Frederick Delius - 1862-1934 - An English composer. Born in the north of England to a prosperous mercantile family, he resisted attempts to recruit him to commerce. He was sent to Florida in the United States in 1884 to manage an orange plantation. There he soon neglected his managerial duties, and in 1886 returned to Europe. Having been influenced by African-American music during his short stay in Florida, he began composing. After a brief period of formal musical study in Germany beginning in 1886, he embarked on a full-time career as a composer in Paris and then in nearby Grez-sur-Loing, where he and his wife Jelka lived for the rest of their lives, except during the First World War.
In his later years Delius became blind and severely disabled, unable to complete his life's work. In 1928 a music teacher and fellow Yorkshireman from Scarborough offered his services as an amanuensis to the blind and paralyzed composer. This was to allow a radiant Indian Summer in the final years at Grez.. Composing continued with the aid of Eric Fenby taking down the notes, offering his complete devotion to Delius. Fenby also enabled the completing, reshaping and promoting of so much of Delius' previous work. The story has been beautifully told in Ken Russell's iconic film 'A Song of Summer' available on this channel.

On trhis video; 'Air and Dance' a miniature for string orchestra. Composed in 1915, simple yet beautiful textures to this piece in one complete movement both Air and Dance. Enjoy the images from North Yorkshire, an area by the sea well know to Delius and much loved by him.

Album Info:-
'Air and Dance' by Frederick Delius
'English String Miniatures, Vol. 2'
English Northern Philharmonia under David Lloyd-Jones
2001.
Naxos.
Apologies for any unintended infringement of copyright. This video has not been made for any element of personal profit or gain.