Meditations on Mountaineering

When reviewing recordings, I usually rate Delius above- average, but rarely does his music rise to outstanding for me. This is one of those recordings which really hit me in the right moment, at the right place.
Music is at its best when it finds you unprepared for its greatness.

I am a tune lover; and so for a variation form to truly work for me, the main idea has to have a strong hook. Appalachia has that, taken from the time Delius spent in Florida, a curious moment in history for the composer. The Florida Suite also comes from this period, and is an equally fine work.

Comparing Delius' Song of the High Hills to Richard Strauss' An Alpine Symphony is an interesting musical meditation. Certainly Strauss captures the awe of a dangerous sojourn up the Alps, whereas one could live in Delius' hilly world. His music is an observation and love of nature, usually with no need for spectacle; that is the beauty of this work.

  

The Review from 2023

I am really enchanted with this program. Those familiar with Frederick Delius know his orchestral style is long-breathed, sometimes rambling, but always beautifully lyrical. These two 30-minute works bear some of that, but for me, rise above aimless wandering to create something really special.

Appalachia is a symphonic variations based on an Old Slave Song, and it really focuses Delius on variety and progression. I love the evocative opening for horn; it is stunningly beautiful, and the way Delius weaves the idea in later is delicious. The pentatonic Old Slave tune screams Americana every time it appears, but especially on trumpet where one could be convinced Delius was an American composer himself.

The Song of the High Hills leans more towards Delius’ endless music making; no movements or significant goalposts. Still, Delius weaves his magic over me, and I really liked this one nonetheless. It doesn’t bear as strong melodisms as Appalachia, but its ideas carry its runtime strongly.

The BBC Symphony Orchestra sounds stunning here, and Chandos’ sonics are lovely. High Hills and Appalachia are sometimes labelled as choral works, but really these are orchestral through and through with tiny hints of chorus as an orchestral texture. I thought the balance towards the middle of High Hills could have been made more mysterious and distant, but the BBC Symphony Chorus sings well regardless.

Fascinating music from British composer Delius, that runs into some competition from John Barbirolli and Charles Groves. But for these two major symphonic works together, this is a wonderful program in terrific sound and performances.

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Works
Appalachia (35.37)
Song of the High Hills (28.48)

Soloists 

Olivia Robinson, soprano

Christopher Bowen, tenor

Andrew Rupp, baritone

Ensembles

BBC Symphony Orchestra & Chorus

Sir Andrew Davis, conductor

Label: Chandos

Year: 2011

Total Timing: 64.06

 

This is very much a top-of-the-heap recording for me, but I acknowledge some might prefer Mackerras, or other earlier recordings.

The point is to hear this music! The Chandos SACD is good and it is great to hear the contributions of the late Sir Andrew Davis.

 

 

 

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