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This work, not published or performed in Delius's lifetime, appears to have been composed and revised over a long period. While the autograph score is dated 1918, Delius indicated in a letter of December 1920 to Emil Hertzka of Universal Edition that the work was still unfinished (cited in RT, 88). The autograph score is complete but dispersed. Of the 50 pages that make it up, pp. 1-31 and 48-50 are in British Library MS Mus. 1745/1/31, pp. 32-43 are in BL MS Mus. 1745/2/8, and pp. 44-7 are in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. The work was subject to copying and arrangements, as detailed under 'Sources', and is particular interest as a work through which Fenby embarked upon his work as Delius's amanuensis. In addition, material from
2 folios of short-score pencil sketches headed 'Slow movement - symphonie'. Fenby has added the note 'Poem of Life and Love - sketch rejected'.
Poem of Life and Love|for Orchestra|Frederick Delius|1918
This item contains i) the incomplete autograph score, in ink and pencil, with many deletions and alterations ii) Jelka Delius's fair copy in ink (also incomplete), headed 'Copy of original MSS. of A Poem of Life and Love in Jelka Delius's hand. Eric Fenby' and iii) photostat copies of material in the Bodleian Library with Delius's covering letter to Michael E. Sadler (dated 26 May 1930) when he presented the material. What Delius introduces as 'a sketch for my latest orchestral work "A Song of Summer"', numbered pp. 12-15 by Fenby, was originally pp. 44-7 (numbered by Delius) of the autograph score of
This item contains i) miscellaneous sketches for piano arrangements in the hands of Eric Fenby and Balfour Gardiner ii) pp. 32-43 of the autograph score, in Delius's hand and iii) a fragment of Jelka's copy of the autograph score.
Pages 44-47 of the autograph score.
While in general, manuscripts relating to arrangements by others are listed in the Appendix, this item is of particular interest as it forms the basis of Fenby and Delius's work by dictation, and incorporates an incomplete solo piano arrangement dictated to Fenby by Delius. The manuscript contains i) an arrangement of the work for two pianos in the hand of Balfour Gardiner, black ink, 1928; ii) a copy of the arrangement in the hand of Balfour Gardiner, completed by Fenby, 1928. This is headed 'Arrangement by Balfour Gardiner in 1928 of "A Poem of Life and Love" made to be ready for my arrival at Grez that year to form the basis of our first work by dictation. Most of this work was rejected and the material used for A Song of Summer. Eric Fenby.'; iii) solo piano arrangement of selected material dictated to Fenby by Delius in blue ink, with deletions and corrections in pencil, red crayon and black ink.
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