Sigma Alpha Iota

20 Summer 2023 • sai-national.org 20 Summer 2023 • sai-national.org A Wld of Music By Jayne I. Hanlin S everal years ago, Dr. Michael Landrum, retired Professor of Music and Film Studies at Roberts Wesleyan University, moved to Florida. He invited me to visit the Delius House on Jacksonville University's campus. Until then, I knew only that Frederick Delius was an English composer. So why was there a residence of his in Florida? I was intrigued. Michael planned a two-day itinerary. Wearing white gloves, we spent the first fascinating aernoon in the restricted area of Special Collections at the Carl S. Swisher Library at Jacksonville University, inspecting donated scores, recordings, publications, photographs, and programs in the Delius Collection. A short walk away was the neglected Delius House. I wondered about future restoration. e following morning we stopped briefly at the Friday Musicale, Florida's oldest musical organization. e rest of the day, without white gloves, we explored the even larger Delius Collection in Special Collections at Jacksonville Public Library. Fourth of fourteen children, Fritz eodor Albert Delius (1862-1934) changed his name to Frederick in 1902. A gied youngster, he improvised on the piano for his parents' guests and even performed string trios with legendaries Johann Joachim (violin) and Alfred Piatti (cello). His father insisted he pursue a non-musical career and for a time he joined the family business. He hated the work and would rush home to improvise on the piano until dinner. In 1884, when English land offices promoted the semi-tropical Floridian region, his father purchased property and sent his son to run a citrus plantation called Solano Grove. Located on the bluffs of the wide St. Johns River, the plantation had many moss-laden, overhanging oaks. e one- and-a-half-story wood cottage had a front veranda, a covered passageway connected to the kitchen, and four rooms with hand-carved fireplace mantels. Here Fritz realized he wanted to compose. He had brought a violin—but wanted a piano. Aer he took a steamboat ride upriver to the busy tourist area of Jacksonville, he tried out instruments in the local music store, Merryday & Paine. Overhearing the improvisation, omas Ward, an accomplished music teacher, entered and introduced himself. Following this serendipitous encounter, Delius traveled back and forth to the city for music lessons with omas Ward. At some point, Ward spent a considerable amount of time at Solano Grove exclusively to teach theory, counterpoint, and fugue to his phenomenal, 22-year-old pupil. Delius treasured these lessons and insisted they were the only ones of benefit to his composing—even aer his father later gave permission for him to study music at the Leipzig Conservatory in Germany. Singing by Black workers living and working on Solano Grove fascinated Delius and had an indelible influence on his life and work. He became the first European classical composer to incorporate African-American musical rhythms and melodies. Years later, Delius told Eric Fenby, his amanuensis, "Hearing their singing…it was then and there that I first felt the urge to The Florida Sojourn of Frederick Delius The Delius House, now on the campus of Jacksonville University. The Delius House, now on the campus of Jacksonville University.

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