Repertoire: The BEST Delius Brigg Fair
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 ก.ย. 2024
- Yes, I count myself an admirer of Frederick Delius, an acquired taste, granted, but one you won't be sorry to have gotten to know, Brigg Fair is possibly his most famous large orchestral work (relatively speaking), and here are the best versions.
Bravo! Glad you cover my favorite composer Delius. Once Delius told Carl Schuricht：I am like Brunhilde； I have eight sisters.
Picked up the Mackerras Double Decca in a bargain bin and was surprised how good these recordings are. I’m particularly fond of the Florida Suite
There's also a wonderful Naxos recording of some briefer works by Delius conducted by David Lloyd-Jones that's worth aquiring.
Ken Russell's film Song of Summer, which deals with Eric Fenby's time with Delius, is available on TH-cam.
Well worth investigating, like all Russell's films about composers.
Ken Davies have seen it, but would like to see it again.
Seeing 'Song of Summer' 45 years ago made me a life-long Delian. I watch it again from time to time and it still packs a punch.
@@merxeddie6474 I understand your point, there's something very special about Song of Summer, but after it came: Women in Love, The Music Lovers, and The Devils, all in 1971, and I would add Mahler 1974 and Altered States 1980. All worthy films.
@@hudsondeal He was a man attracted by excessive statements on film. Sometimes that produced genius and sometimes mere grotesquery often within the same production. But he is almost always worth investigating.
The Ormandy is indeed a great disk and yes I love it. My heart is still with my Beecham Brigg Fair and Barbirolli for the Tommy Tallis but I wouldn't be without any of those recordings.
You can't beat New Zealanders for shouting "hey!".
Barbirolli is 'a love trudger!' LOL!
I have the Andrew Davis Delius recording on Teldec, and it is excellent. However, Ormandy's performances of Brigg Fair and other Delius works on Sony are gorgeously well played and sound great for their age. Thanks for recommending them.
Great stuff - thanks for reviewing a neglected masterpiece!
I have a soft spot for a cheapo Tring recording of Christopher Seaman and the Royal Phil. Spectacular sound recording and a performance that stands up well to the big boys: Beecham, Mackerras and Collins. Haven't heard the Ormandy though!
I agree about the Seaman recording.
I started listening to Delius as a teenager when there was only Beecham doing him. Delius is certainly one-of-a-kind. Someone else was hoping you'd review Sea Drift. YES!!!!!!!! Assuming there are enough versions to merit a review. (I have and treasure the Beecham-Bruce Boyce version on LP). I admire the scope of your musical tastes.
Now you’re talking about a “soul” composer for me.
2 brief points on Delius I may:
1. Delius grew up musically with the sound world of German orchestras having studied in Leipzig. He may have also heard French and Norwegian orchestras. English orchestras these days tend to blend everything together. When German or Scandinavian orchestras eg Bergen Phil tend to make Delius sound well esp with Eventyr. The brass have a very clear distinct sound in German orchestras for example.
2. With Delius a sense of structure is crucial. Hickox usually grasped the structure of the Mass of Life. They have to decide to which point a piece and movement is headed where the climax is. If the conductor misjudges the structure the interpretation will fail and the music will seem how many think Delius is I e meandering.
I'll have a go with Ormondy. I'm a bit euro centric with orchestras.
Eric Fenby did so much for Delius......the Ken Russell film and all that.....quite moving.
David, I hope you will do more Delius, and my first choice would be 'Sea Drift.' Thanks!
I've had this disc for some time. Dave is 100% right on this one. Hands down the best. I think that the performance of In a Summer Garden, on this disc, is the best ever made. If you like Delius, do whatever you have to do, but get this disc. It really is that good!!!!!
Schubert also died from syphilis, but we were told that he died from a less embarrassing reason such as tuberculosis
I must admit, I never had much interest in Delius, but your review and piqued my interest. I'll make it a point to hear some of these recordings.
Yes, I have the Hickox for "Paris" and the "Florida" Suite! It's all the Delius I need (or want). I prefer Grainger and Bax, for music that's SORT of like that. That said, I'll grab that Ormandy disc.
I approach this composer's music as I would an impressionistic painting. His melodic gifts can be sampled
in pieces like The Florida Suite.
The original recording of the song dates from 1908 - Joseph Taylor, of Saxby-all-Saints, Lincolnshire. It's only a fragment, but it's marvellous. Presumably, after over a century it's out of copyright so I can't understand why nobody has included it as an extra on a Delius CD.
Very glad Delius is well represented here. He’s one of my favorites. You mentioned the issue of how long a piece should be on recording. Have you come across recordings you felt might be too long or too short, but when you listened, it was still great?
Sure, lots of them. You have take each case as it comes.
Have the Ormandy on a Japanese Remastering. Wonderful treasure.
Don't know if you're familiar with it, but I've always been very partial to Christopher Seaman's recording of Brigg Fair with the Royal Philharmonic, part of a Delius collection which also contains a particularly good performance of Over the Hills and Far Away.
Ah, Brigg Fair. Which I would broadcast on the Fifth of August, the weather fine and fair...Do you know the part-song setting by Grainger, who introduced the folk tune to Delius? It's on Rutter's "There is Sweet Music," one of the great English choral albums. Lovely!
My first reaction was "Ormandy, you've got to be kidding." But I have it, took it out and listened to it again, and I have to say that I can understand your enthusiasm; it's quite good, don't know why I overlooked it before. My personal favorite is the Royal Philharmonic with Christopher Seaman, don't know if you're familiar with his Delius disc. How about A Mass of Life or Song of the High Hills sometime? Those are two of my favorite larger works of Delius.
Hopefully sometime!
My collection of Delius is very limited, would you recommend the 150th anniversary box from EMI?
Sure--like I said, no one does Delius if they aren't committed to the cause.
Most definitely!
My father was a jazz lover, but would pick up classical albums if he enjoyed them via radio. This resulted in quite the hodgepodge and some of the first classical pieces I remember hearing were by Glass, Janacek, and Delius. So I'm glad you're touching on this composer. Although there is no connection between the two, Delius' approach shares a lot with Takemitsu.
I gave Ormandy a listen here on TH-cam and enjoyed it very much, thanks!
Another excellent conductor of Delius (in my opinion), is Charles Groves. However, I don't believe he ever recorded Brigg Fair.
Groves was excellent, period!
@@DavesClassicalGuide I got his box on your recommendation and am enjoying so much!
I have yet to hear something by him I like. And I have tried. There are so many `voices` out there that I've come to the conclusion that I will never like him. Just heard one of those ever so well-meant BBC programmes about `The Canon` and how we need to hear more. I can hardly digest the current Canon!
You're not alone! There's no shame in it.