Frederick Delius and Peter Warlock: A Friendship Revealed

The Eton schoolboy, Philip Heseltine (Peter Warlock), was not yet 17 when he first met his musical hero Frederick Delius at a concert in 1911. The next day he wrote an ecstatic letter to Delius who was flattered and intrigued by the young admirer. And so began a correspondence that was to last until Heseltine's untimely death in 1930. Barry Smith has fully researched the background of the correspondence and by means of generous annotations and linking narrative has produced a compelling story of an unusual and unique friendship between two composers.

The Eton schoolboy, Philip Heseltine (Peter Warlock), was not yet 17 when he first met his musical hero Frederick Delius at a concert in 1911. The next day he wrote an ecstatic letter to Delius who was flattered and intrigued by the young admirer. And so began a correspondence that was to last until Heseltine's untimely death in 1930. Barry Smith has fully researched the background of the correspondence and by means of generous annotations and linking narrative has produced a compelling story of an unusual and unique friendship between two composers.

Times Literary Supplement - Anderson

There is much to entertain in the letters, as well as food for thought...Smith's editing is exemplary. There is just enough introductory matter to set the scene year by year, and Smith disarms criticism and keeps at bay any dull search for misprints by attributing all such to the correspondent's failure to spell properly.

Author is a noted authority on the composer Peter Warlock. He is Professor of Music at the University of Cape Town and Organist & Master of the Choristers, St George's Cathedral, Cape Town, South Africa