While Spring and Summer Sang: Thomas Beecham and the Music of Frederick Delius

Lyndon Jenkins provides the first in-depth study of the extraordinary creative relationship between Beecham and Delius. Starting with the first meeting of the composer and conductor in 1907, Jenkins charts Beecham’s gradual introduction of Delius’s compositions to British and foreign audiences, the operatic premières and revivals, the Delius festivals that he organized in 1929 and 1946, and the formation of the Delius Trust upon the composer’s death in 1934. Also described is Beecham’s continuing crusade for Delius’s music up to his own death in 1961. Includes a critical discography.

Lyndon Jenkins is a writer, lecturer and broadcaster on music. From 1972-1987 he wrote on music for The Birmingham Post before becoming a regular contributor to BBC Radio 3, BBC World Service and the Independent Radio Network specialising in British music, British artists, and British musical history through documentary programmes on Beecham, Sargent, Maggie Teyte, Eric Fenby, E.J. Moeran, Glyndebourne and many others. He lectures widely on these and a range of other subjects, and has written hundreds of articles on musical subjects for specialist magazines. He gave the first Adrian Boult Lecture in Birmingham in 1986 and was chairman of The Delius Society from 1994-2000. Outside the UK he is especially interested in Scandinavian composers and has broadcast on Finish and Danish radio about Sibelius and Nielsen. He writes CD booklets for EMI, Philips, Naxos, and the Testament and Dutton labels. He is presently Special Projects Manager at Symphony Hall Birmingham, where he assists with the programming, introduces concerts, interviews artists and arranges special events. Publications: Sir Adrian Boult’s Birmingham Years; The Birmingham 78s; The Recorded Works of William Walton; The Music of Arthur Bliss on Record.