Composer

:

Frederick Delius

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Variations

Compose Date

:

1902

Average_duration

:

37:21

Movement_count

:

17

Movement ....

Frederick Delius composed "Appalachia, for baritone, chorus & orchestra, RT ii/2" in 1902-1903. The piece premiered on October 30, 1904, at the Leeds Festival in England, with the composer conducting. The work is divided into four movements, each depicting a different aspect of the Appalachian Mountains in the southeastern United States. The first movement, "The Song of the Cherokee Indians," features a solo baritone singing a mournful melody over a lush orchestral accompaniment. The chorus enters later, singing a wordless, ethereal melody that evokes the spirit of the Cherokee people. The second movement, "Becky Sharp's Waltz," is a lively dance that depicts the social scene in the Appalachian region. The music is light and playful, with a prominent role for the orchestra's woodwinds. The third movement, "Mountains," is a slow, contemplative piece that captures the majesty and grandeur of the Appalachian landscape. The music is characterized by long, sweeping melodies and rich harmonies. The final movement, "Folk Songs from the Appalachians," is a medley of traditional folk tunes from the region. The chorus sings the melodies, while the orchestra provides a colorful and varied accompaniment. The movement ends with a triumphant reprise of the opening melody from the first movement. Overall, "Appalachia" is a lush and evocative work that showcases Delius's skill as an orchestrator and his ability to capture the essence of a particular time and place. The piece is notable for its use of folk melodies and its incorporation of Native American themes, which were relatively uncommon in classical music at the time.

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