| The violin and piano sonatas of Frederick Delius are but a small part of his collected chamber music. All three works were completed within a 16-year span, but there is an unusual stylistic separation from other works in the genre. This thesis focuses on three of these works: Sonata 1 (1914), Sonata 2 (1923), and Sonata 3 (1930). After an examination of Delius's life before and around the time of their composition, the thesis offers an analysis of the three works with regard to their structure, tonal design, and melodic and rhythmic features. It then draws conclusions about their influences and their musical components and makes comparisons with contemporary examples of the genre. The author also provides performance suggestions for the piano about Delius's awkward voicings in all three sonatas.; The aim of this study is to provide critical illumination of these neglected yet important works as well as some immediate insight and encouragement for performers looking for works beyond the mainstream repertoire. |
