Frederick Delius

Delius As I Knew Him

by: Eric Fenby

Amazon Price: $26.53 (as of 05/31/2012)

When he learned that the famed composer Frederick Delius was blind and crippled but still wished to finish a number of musical pieces, the young English organist Eric Fenby offered to go to France and aid him. What happened was very unique. Fenby and Delius learned to work with another despite Delius' very strong personality and generally cranky attitude and differences over music, religion (Delis was a disciple of Nieztche while Fenby was a Christian) and outlooks on life. Fenby brings out the best in Delius and helped him complete his work.

Fenby offers a biographical sketch of Delius and leaves a strong impression of what the composer was like at the end of his life. He also offers a detailed description of how they worked together. Even though I have no background in music, I was able to follow this part of the book. Fenby also offers some ideas of what the place of Delius in history will be and one is suprised by how fair and detached he is.

For fans of Delius, this book is excellent. But it may be more rewarding for those wishing to understand the power of a genius as well. Still, it may be most rewarding for those struggling with loved ones in poor health or dying. As the composer's own "Songs of Sunset" and "Songs of Farewell" remind us, there is much beauty even in the twilight.

This is a book that reveals two great souls; Frederick Delius and Eric Fenby. There can be no better words of praise for a memoir.

Comments from another reviewer:

This is a truly remarkable story that will appeal, whether or not the reader has any interest in 'serious' music. Fenby brings to life the atmosphere of tension that prevailed in the home of Frederick Delius, a self-absorbed egotist. Although his attitude to the then-blind and paralysed composer bordered on reverence, Fenby never loses his clear-headedness when assessing Delius' faults and idiosyncrasies.

This is a wonderfully-written book that shows Fenby to have been both sensitive and extremely tough. He had to be both to deal with a unique and difficult genius like Delius. The author was fortunate to enter a milieu that brought him into close contact with some of the great names in the music world of the late 1920s and early 30s: Edward Elgar, Peter Warlock, and Percy Grainger. His portraits of these and other musical luminaries are charming and insightful.

Although it was my love of Delius' music that drew me to this book, I found 'Delius as I Knew Him' most rewarding for its insights into its author, who was clearly a good and selfless man.