The Jacksonville Historical Society

Journal
Articles of Interest about Jacksonville History

º Congressman Charles Bennett
º Alexander Darnes and Kirby Smith
º Charlie "Hoss" Singleton
º Frederick Delius
º Hurricane Dora
º The Patriot War of 1812
º Liberty Ships
º San Marco – A Touch of Venice
º Riverside-Avondale – One of Florida's largest Historic Districts
º Leah Mary Cox
º Consolidation – "The Largest City in the World"
º William Bartram
º Baseball in Jacksonville
º German Spies Invade Ponte Vedra

Frederick Delius

Fritz Theodor Albert Delius was born 1862, in Bradford, England. While his father encouraged music at home, it was never considered a proper livelihood.

When Delius showed no success working in the family’s prosperous wool business, he left Europe (in 1884) for Florida’s Solano Grove, 35 miles south of Jacksonville, to manage a St. Johns River orange “plantation.”

Delius found little interest in the orange business, but a trip to Jacksonville led to a chance meeting with accomplished New York musician Thomas F. Ward. Ward spent months at Solano Grove instructing Delius. Delius would stay in Florida only a year and a half, but the “Florida experience” would later be traced to twelve of his compositions, which include the major works of his life.

Delius’ father would soon support his son’s musical pursuits. Delius moved from composing songs and small-scale instrumental and orchestral pieces to operas. By 1902, he had anglicized his name to Frederick. He became a prominent composer of his day, known for his lush meandering melodies. Sir Thomas Beecham called him the last great apostle of our time in romance, emotion and beauty in music.”

“In Florida, through sitting and gazing at nature, I gradually learnt the way in which I should eventually find myself…hearing singing in such romantic surroundings, it was then and there that I first felt the urge to express myself in music.”

-Frederick Delius

The Delius House prior to restoration and relocation to the Jacksonville University campus.

The Florida Suite by Delius is one of the most beautiful works of the ninteenth century, and shows a freshness and beauty that only Delius could concieve, displaying a vast array of wonderful orchestral imagery, excellent harmonic qualities, and overall wondrous symphonic power and sound. It was composed in 1887, a year after Delius had left his orange grove in Florida, inspired by the landscape and culture around the St. John's River. It consists of four movements - Daybreak, By the River, Sunset, and At Night.

The Delius House islocated on the Jacksonville University Campus. Originally located at Solano Grove, 35 miles south of Jacksonville, the house was the place where Delius composed his first works. Rediscovered in underbrush in 1939, five years after Delius’ death, the house was moved to the J.U. campus in 1961 and restored.

The University holds the Delius Festival each year in honor of the composer.