Frederick Delius

Frederick Albert Theodore Delius (29 January 1862 - 10 June 1934) was an English composer. He was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, but spent most of his life in Grez-sur-Loing, France. His work is characterised by chromaticism and extended melody, and the influence of African-American music, experienced during a youthful sojourn in Florida. Delius was an atheist, and an admirer of Nietzsche.

Most of Delius's works are tone poems, like Brigg Fair: An English Rhapsody or In a Summer Garden. He also wrote four concertos (for violin, cello, violin and cello together, and piano) and several rarely performed operas, one of which (A Village Romeo and Juliet) contains the well-known The Walk to the Paradise Garden. Another vocal work is Sea Drift, for baritone, chorus and orchestra, setting words by Whitman, with its tale of a bird whose mate goes missing, typical of the sense of loss and nostalgia which pervades Delius's music.