APPALACHIA

Journal 141 (Spring 2007) features this work, with no less than twelve articles devoted to different aspects of this neglected masterpiece:

In an article entitled Delius and America, John White reviews Delius’s relationship with America and how it is portrayed in his works. There is also a comment on Appalachia by Philip Heseltine reproduced from the ‘Musical Times’ of 1915 and a fascinating discovery of a forward, written by Delius, to an autobiography of a negro writer in which Delius explains the influence of the negro slave music he heard in Florida.

A Musical Analysis of Appalachia is presented by Paul Guinery. The structure and form are discussed in detail, with many musical examples.

Martin Lee-Browne’s article Four Conductors reviews the lives of the German conductors who championed so much of Delius’s music in his early years: Hans Haym, Julius Buths, Fritz Cassirer and Oskar Fried. Many of Delius’s first performances were in Germany, including Appalachia (by Hans Haym, in Elberfeld, on 15 October 1904).

Other articles on Appalachia include reviews of the first UK performance (1907), a comment on the work by Neville Cardus in 1945, a BBC talk by Constant Lambert on
Delius and Negro Music, a review of available recordings by Robert Matthew-Walker and a fascinating discussion on the work between Martin Lee-Browne (DSJ Editor) and the conductor Sir Charles Mackerras in which the latter makes clear his deep appreciation of the work.

THE SOCIETY’S VISIT TO GREZ-SUR-LOING

Thanks to the ongoing hospitality of M Jean Merle d’Aubigné, the present owner of Delius’s house at Grez, the Society was able to organise a visit in September 2006. Roger Buckley, our Chairman, gives an account of what was a most enjoyable occasion and an American visitor, Bonnie Brauer, gives her own amusing and idiosyncratic diary account of the trip.

THE DELIUS PRIZE

The third competition for awarding the Delius Prize was held on 17 November 2006 at the Royal Academy of Music, London. This annual event was inaugurated by the Society and, as before attracted a number of very talented student performers who each gave a brief recital of a Delius chamber work or songs juxtaposed with pieces by his contemporaries. We were very fortunate to have Sir Charles Mackerras as judge on this occasion. The choice between these talented players was difficult but the first prize of £500 was awarded to Liv-Marie Fletcher and Timothy End for their thrilling performance of Delius’s Second Violin Sonata, coupled with Elgar’s ‘Salut d’Amour’.

MISCELLANEOUS

Amongst other items, Journal 141 includes articles by Lionel Carley and Paul Chennell on (respectively) the artist colony at Grez and Delius & Rodin. There are reports of Delius Society London meetings on 27 September 2006 (Ian Walker on British music and the Great War) and 6 December (Roger Buckley on ‘The Delian influence’), and a Midland branch meeting on 19 November (Stephen Lloyd on Constant Lambert).

In Concert Reviews the Editor reports on piano duet recitals in Bath and David Green reviews a memorable recital by Paul Guinery on British piano music. There is review of a rare amateur orchestra performance of ‘Lebenstanz’ in Oxford and an article on Delius performances at the English Music Festival in Dorchester-on-Thames.

Book Reviews include Lionel Carly’s recent book on ‘Greig in England’, Lewis Foreman’s new edition of ‘Bax- A Composer and his Times’ and ‘Roses and Rain’, a biography of James Elroy Flecker.

CD Reviews include reissues of several early recordings: Violin Sonatas 1,2 & 3 by Albert Sammons, and by Yehudi Menuhin/Eric Fenby, and the Piano Concerto by Clifford Cirzon and the BBC Symphony Orchestra/John Pritchard.

There is the usual lively correspondence and our MISCELLANY section features, as has now become customary, some unusual items!

The Delius Society Journal is a fascinating mix of informative, scholarly and entertaining articles. Why not encourage your local library to subscribe to it?