A Song of Summer

"A Song of Summer" is a tone poem for orchestra by Frederick Delius. This composition derived originally from a 1918 symphonic work, originally called a "Poem of Life and Love", which was never published.Robert Anderson, Review of "The Fenby Legacy" (1982). "The Musical Times", 123 (1669): p. 189.] However, Delius had indicated in 1921 to Peter Warlock (Philip Heseltine) that he had misplaced most of the score. [Robert Anderson, "Also-Rans?" (1998). "The Musical Times", 139 (1860): p. 33.] Delius resumed work on this composition after the arrival of Eric Fenby as amanuensis to Delius, after Delius had become blind. Delius dictated the music to Fenby, and the music was completed in 1931. Delius dedicated the score to Fenby, who recorded the score with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in a recording released in 1981. Sir Henry Wood conducted the premiere in London on September 17, 1931.

Delius explained the context of the tone poem to Fenby by saying:

"I want you to imagine we are sitting on the cliffs of heather and looking out over the sea. The sustained chords in the high strings suggest the clear sky and stillness and calm of the scene...You must remember that figure that comes in the violins when the music becomes more animated. I'm introducing it there to suggest the gentle rise and fall of the waves. The flutes suggest a seagull gliding by."

References

ources

*David Ewen, "Encyclopedia of Concert Music". New York; Hill and Wang, 1959.