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- Delius, Frederick
Duration: 12 minutes
Description: English composer Frederick Delius (1862–1934) composed his Two Pieces for Small Orchestra in 1911–12: “Summer Night on the River” was written in 1911, followed by “On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring” in 1912. The two orchestral miniatures were dedicated to the English composer and conductor Balfour Gardiner and received their first performance together on October 23, 1913, at the Gewandhaus in Leipzig, with Arthur Nikisch conducting the Gewandhaus Orchestra. Although composed second, “On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring” appears first in the published pair and incorporates a Norwegian folk melody also used by Delius’s friend Edvard Grieg in his collection of Norwegian folk tunes. The distinctive two-note call of the cuckoo is heard principally in the woodwinds. “Summer Night on the River” presents a contrasting nocturnal scene using delicate woodwind writing and a prominent solo cello to suggest the stillness and gentle movement of a summer evening by the water. Of the pair, “On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring” has become particularly well known and remains one of Delius’s most frequently performed works. Instrumentation: 2.1.2.2: 2.0.0.0: Str (9.8.7.6.5 in set). Reprint edition.