Delius: Cello Sonata

[gvans]

Frederick Delius' Cello Sonata, written in 1916 for the British virtuoso Beatrice Harrison, is cast in one movement with three sections. Its slow middle section contrasts with the flow of rhapsodic melody in the outer parts. The piano part, filled with tenths, accidentals, and difficult skips, sounds easy when played well, but is quite virtuosic. Frequent jazz and chromatic elements spice the conversation between the two instruments.

The work opens with a sweep of cello melody which provides material for much of the piece, followed by the piano's only solo, a six-bar phrase in octaves. The work moves with a feeling of continuing evolution into the dream-like middle section, followed by a recapitulation of the opening and a dramatic coda.

The piano is a Yamaha C-6. We're performing for an audience of about 100.

[j_menz]

You manage to put the "cio" in Deli..us. 

[ted]

Thank you for posting this. How strange, I had just been watching the Ken Russell film about Delius, and the two-part reminiscence by Eric Fenby, both of which have appeared on youtube. Then I find this beautifully played little gem which I had not heard before. I have loved Delius's luscious, contemplative hedonism ever since I first heard it in my youth. Listening to his music is a bit like wandering in a garden and constantly stumbling on hidden, heavily scented chordal and phrasal blooms.

The piano part is interesting, because according to those who had heard his improvisation in the years when he could play, all you got was this amazing series of wonderful chords. There are many harmonic changes of intense beauty in this piece and you bring them out well. It all sounds  delightfully spontaneous, but according to Fenby, Delius was very precise and deliberate.

Really enjoyable. 

[gvans]

Thank you j_menz and ted, for your kind words. The piece grew on us as we rehearsed it. If we could wrangle more time to work on it, and a few more chances to perform it, we might just do it justice. This was our first time playing it live, and we had a few butterflies.

[rachfan]

Hi gvans,

I enjoyed your performance of this Cello Sonata.  While I've heard Delius' orchestral pieces, the piano concerto and his opera, somehow I missed this piece.  I believe you both did a totally creditable rendition here--very artistic indeed.  I especially liked the sensuous, rhapsodic middle section.  Thanks for posting!

David   

[awesom_o]

I liked very much in the following order, from most to least.

Your playing. Sensitive and spontaneous. Playing with cello takes great control of balance and many people unwittingly overpower the cello by playing too thickly in the cello's range, instead of working artfully around her range so as to inhance rather than compete. You didn't follow into that usual trap!

Her playing. Not bad overall in any way, but times when her bowing seemed a bit workmanlike and her intonation...not ideal.

This piece. I'm neither a huge fan or a real disliker of Delius. I tend to prefer his earlier style somewhat. While this is certainly not a late work of his, it's not an early one. It contains many beautiful things and moments. But sometimes the ways these moments are discovered or constructed seem a bit odd.

Thank you very much though for this contribution! I would love to play with you one day though, if perhaps not this work. Maybe the Rachmaninov from 15 years before!

[gvans]

I would love to play with you one day though, if perhaps not this work. Maybe the Rachmaninov from 15 years before!

That's a real compliment, awesom_o, and yes, I've been studying that Rach cello sonata. It's a beautiful, evocative beast. Each of the four movements is a tour de force. Maybe next year.

Many thanks, rachfan, for your kind words as well. Yes, the middle section has delicious and delectible, if devious Delius harmonies. This is a piece, to repeat, that grows on one.