(Born January 29, 1863)
[On page 209 of this issue Miss Beatrice Harrison gives an interesting account of a recent visit which he paid to the Composer at his home in France.]
The Wireless Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Geoffrey Toye
Brigg Fair
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra
Soloist, Albert Sammons
In a Summer Garden
Dance Rhapsody, No. I
Brigg Fair is an English folk-song which Delius has made the basis of an orchestral Rhapsody. He has prefaced his score with the words of the ballad. This is the first verse:-
'It was on the fift' of August,
The weather fine and fair,
Unto Brigg Fair I did repair,
For love I was inclined.'
The Rhapsody is scored for a large Orchestra. The Introduction (Slow, Pastoral) consists mainly of little arabesques on Flutes and Clarinets, suggestive of bird songs.
The Tune is then given out as an Oboe Solo, with light chordal accompaniment of Woodwind and pizzicato (plucked) Strings. The rest of the work consists of almost continuous variations on the Tune.
INSTEAD of the normal three Movements of the Concerto, Delius here condenses into one Movement the whole of his discourse.
Building on many small, germinal motifs, he contrives to balance his sections and to give them independent life, while maintaining the unity of this one-piece work.
Two bars lead us straight into the Solo Violin's chief theme, with, in the middle, its little quick lilt of four short notes, that makes it easy to recognize. In a few more bars we are in a new time, with three divisions to each beat instead of four, and with a slightly slower swing the Violin gives out its rising and falling second tune. These and one or two other motifs supply the material for the first par of the work, and then we pass into a slower section (Strings muted built up on two singing themes, one three-to-the-beat, and the other, in four-time, beginning with the 'snap' - a short note followed by a longer one.
The Soloist has a short 'cadenza,' by himself, and then the themes of the opening section receive fresh treatment.
A new part begins with a dancing tune (Woodwind and plucked Strings), which the Soloist decorates. A more sober theme follows.
Finally the opening ideas recur, and the work ends in a characteristically striking and elusive way.
NO one has pictured the calm and tranquil moods of nature more beautifully than Delius. In a Summer Garden is one such impression, which is dedicated to the Composer's wife. It is headed by a quotation from D. G. Rossetti that gives us the thought behind the music:-
All are my blooms; and all sweet blooms of love To thee I gave while Spring and Summer sang.
THE First Dance Rhapsody was brought out at the Hereford Festival of 1909. A large Orchestra is used, including the rarely heard Heckelphone (an improved Bass Oboe).
At the outset a short Introduction brings forth some of the tunes to be worked upon. Two of these appear successively on Oboe and Flute. Another motif of which use is made is the little dance that the Horns have.
In the next section the time quickens considerably, and Bassoons and lower Strings give out a new tune. Violins, in octaves, have another. The treatment of these is free, and charmingly coloured.
After more development, the Oboe's first dance-theme comes back, on Flute and Clarinet in octaves.
After a climax, a slow section ensues, in which a Solo Violin has a beautiful version of the first Tune, accompanied only by Strings.
The last clear division is that in which the 'very lively' pace is resumed. The end is loud and most energetic.
