《Serenade from Hassan》

Frederick Delius (1862-1934)

Frederick Delius was a British composer. In this piece, the melody is elegant and fluid, the harmonies clear and graceful, the tempo unrestrained and gentle, the rhythms flexible and spacious, and the forms variable, similar to the characteristics of French impressionism. Delius sojourned to Florida for a time, and was influenced by local black gospel music and popular music; thus, he often fuses jazz elements into his compositions. This piece was written for James Elroy Flecker’s (1884-1915) play Hassan. The “Serenade” appears in the first act. The piece has a strong rustic character. It begins with a broken chord played twice, displaying the highly romantic sentiment of the harp. The melody is mellifluous, and the accompaniment is in triple meter, repeatedly stressing the first and third beats, continuously emphasizing the calm and peaceful ambience of the night. A cello made by British luthier Thomas Dodd in 1800 is used for this recording of the Julian Lloyd Webber arrangement of the piece. The alluring and calm uniquess of the cello’s sound enhances the piece’s sense of a quiet seclusion.