Decadents and Melancholics

'This is not a work for a wide public, but rather for a smallish band of musical isolates who are born decadents and life's melancholics at the same time.'

This quote was actually meant for Songs of Sunset, but I think it could aptly describe much of Delius' music and its listeners thereof.

Many toil away at trying to get into the music of Delius, some to no avail. I find I have to be in a certain frame of mind for any success. His music is akin to laying in the lawn and watching the clouds slowly meander by. If you haven't calmed your soul to do such a thing, Delius will be tough.

Songs of Farewell is for chorus alone, and provides the most variety. Sea Drift is the all-out masterpiece, although I often have trouble with personified animals in Classical music; they usually elicit a titter from me. This one, however, makes the score.

My wife loves listening to Bryn Terfel, so this one stays in the rotation. This recording was reissued twice, each with Terfel gazing intently off the cover. I actually like this original cover a lot, and it gives Sally Burgess a credit without plastering the baritone front and center. After all, he still gets a bold recognition here!

 

A review from 2022

I never thought Frederick Delius’s music received much love, and since these orchestrated songs aren’t particularly rampant on record, perhaps my suspicions bear some weight. Chandos’ early 90’s recording with Bryn Terfel was an early digital triumph, most recently remastered in 2015.

Delius’ music can be as powerful as a mighty river, but usually plaintively so, with its majesty and grandiosity flowing deeply underneath its surface. This gives his music a lyrical sameness that can be wearying, but it does pay dividends to get to know. His text choices are usually rather doleful, while his abilities with orchestration and vocal lines are sumptuous, yet slowly evolving and meandering.

Perhaps the liner notes quote his music best, as meant for ‘musical isolates who are born decadents and life’s melancholics at the same time’.

Songs of Farewell for chorus alone has the most variety, although Sea Drift, with its personified avian story about love lost, may be his masterpiece. The vocalists are well heard in Chandos’ sonics; however the chorus is a bit washy and behind the orchestra to be crisply understood; thankfully the physical media comes with song texts.

I could understand some being turned off by Bryn Terfel’s burly baritone, but I really like his way with this oft-ruminative music. His inflections are thoughtful but dramatic, and he marries the words to the music with great interest. Soprano Sally Burgess joins him in Songs of Sunset, and while nicely sung, is hard to put Dame Janet Baker and John Shirley-Quirk out of mind.

A really terrific recording, nonetheless for this trio of works being paired together. Sea Drift is pretty well represented on record: Sir Charles Groves and Roderick Williams are standouts, while the others are harder to find.

Otherwise, this recording with Bryn Terfel and Sir Richard Hickox is an easy first choice for these works. Delius’ music may languor too much on my ears, and his texts may lay on the dreary side for me, but it is all beautifully done here. Soul-sticking music for sure!

Listen on YouTube

Works

Sea Drift (25.55)

Songs of Farewell (18.02)
Song of Sunset (32.52)

Soloists 

Sally Burgess, mezzo

Bryn Terfel, baritone

Ensembles

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

Bournemouth Symphony Chorus

Conductor

Richard Hickox

Label

Chandos

1993; 2001; 2015

Total Timing
77.08

 

An excellent way to get to know Delius' vocal works.

Some might not like Terfel's bigger voice, but there are others to explore.

For me, having these all in one place is attractive!

 

Find more Delius recordings HERE!