Delius: An Arabesque - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

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 this video: from a poem by Danish poet - Jens Peter Jacobsen 1847 - 1885, translated by Philip Heseltine AKA. Peter Warlock. Delius' music, this dated c. 1911/12 , is well suited to the depth of feeling generated by love turned toxic, loss and sadness, Nature is less complicated than the schemes of man, but can be equally cruel, yet there is rebirth and hope. Hope also for mankind, one hopes!

The work begins with these words -
'Hast thou in gloomy forests wandered?
Knowest thou Pan?
I too have known him.
Not in gloomy forests,
When all the silence spoke;
No, no, him never have I known,
Only the Pan of Love have I endured'

'A vignette of disaster, An Arabesque tells how the subject has exiled himself from Redemption-in-Nature by entangling himself in the pernicious human traffic called Love'.
An allegory often seized by Delius, whereby the very depths of human emotion are given reference to the natural world of nature with all her splendour, loss, tragedy and rebirth mirroring the joys and sorrows of mankind.
The images are directly related and synchronized to the music and words.

Album info:
Delius - Songs With Piano.
An Arabesque
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Eric Fenby,
Ambrosian Singers, Thomas Allen - baritone
2012 Heritage Records. Re-mastered.

Apologies for any unintended infringement of copyright. This video has not been made for any element of personal profit or gain

[Geoff]

Well I for one really enjoy his work Jayne. Thank you for this video xx

[norisna]

Truly beautiful Jayne. Beautiful story, beautiful music and very good interpretation. And of course, the images, wonderful Jayne. Thank you very much for sharing!

[charlierumoldboi]

I have virtually all Delius's music on LP or cd, but I have, for some inexplicable reason, never heard this piece before, despite knowing of its existence for years. First impressions? Delius's most advanced score, in places almost dissonant, at times it feels keyless, and if I was to compare it to another composers work, I would say it almost sounds like Van Dieran's Chinese Symphony. What a remarkable piece of music.

[timothycoleman]

I have long thought this score Delius' masterpiece, though perhaps not in this performance which lacks a genuine sense of danger at least until the climax. I recommend Sir Charles Groves' performance. Listen to the menace of his opening. Then Sir Thomas sings so beautifully here but so politely. Listen to the elegance of his "gloomy" in the opening line. John Shirley-Quirk (who I believe never sang the work in concert) finds so many more colours for Sir Charles.. But hey! It's only a personal opinion.

[veralubov]

May hope and joy reside in our hearts. Thank you, Jayne, for your tireless efforts to bring more light into this world.

[michavietze]

Good morning Jayne Anne Strutt Thank you for the music. We have the 17.12.2020 10.25h and i have BIRTHDAY 51 years. if you it make can Please specelie for me One Stick music to my Birthday you Make me to the happyst man in the World. THANK YOU