Delius: On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring

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Music reviews of Delius: On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring

Music Review: Lloyd-Jones is a Worthy Successor to Beecham as a Delian
Rating: 5 Stars

In between these two not-so-well-known pieces are some of his loveliest creations. There are the 'Three Small Tone Poems,' each named for a season: 'Summer Evening,' 'Winter Night,' 'Spring Morning.' There was originally a fourth piece called 'Autumn,' but it seems to be lost. These works, from the same time period as the early 'Marche Caprice,' confirm that Delius from early on was able to limn the characteristics of nature as well as any English composer ever has.

'American Rhapsody' is a shorter version of the later 'Appalachia' and does not contain a choral section. But it does contain worksongs from the African American workers whom Delius heard singing when he was in Florida running a family-owned orange plantation. It also includes extensive treatments of 'Dixie' and 'Yankee Doodle.' The piece was never performed as written until the 1980s.

'The Walk to the Paradise Garden,' from his opera, 'A Village Romeo and Juliet,' is, of course, one of Delius' most loved compositions. It is given a meltingly beautiful reading here. Following that are 'Two Pieces for Small Orchestra,' containing the vastly familiar 'On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring' and then the somewhat less-heard 'Summer Night on the River.' I was not aware until reading the excellent booklet notes by Hugh Priory that 'Cuckoo' quotes a Norwegian folksong that had also been used by Grieg. Again, Lloyd-Jones and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra do themselves proud. In fact, I don't know if I've ever heard a lovelier 'Cuckoo' either in concert or on recording. And that includes Beecham's famous recording. Simply splendid!

The CD is rounded out by 'A Song Before Sunrise,' written in 1918, the last of Delius' nature studies. 'Fantastic Dance,' dictated to Delius' amenuensis Eric Fenby after he became incapacitated, is rather more spirited than any of the foregoing and is a fitting close to this entirely glorious concert.

This is an impressive program well-played and -recorded, and all the more so when one considers the budget price.

Enthusiastically recommended.

Scott Morrison

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