FREDERICK DELIUS
The Story of Hassan of Bagdad and How He Came to Make
the Golden Journey to Samarkand
Complete Incidental Music to the Poetic Prose Play
in Five Acts (1911-13)
by James Elroy Flecker (1844-1915)
with Linking Narration by Meurig Bowen
''General Dance'', Act II, Scene 1, contributed by
Percy Grainger (1882-1961)
1.
Prelude.‡ Slow - Quietly but expressively - Marcato -
4:23
2.
Narrator: ''We are in old Bagdad'' *
2:29
3.
Interlude between Scenes 1 & 2. ‡ Very quietly -
1:50
4.
Scene 2. Moonlight. The street of Felicity, by the fountain of the two pigeons, in front of the house.‡ Very quietly
0:26
5.
Narrator: 'It is later that night' *
0:57
6.
Serenade.‡ Con moto moderato
1:49
7.
Narrator: ''The shutters open, and Yasmin appears'' *
2:27
8.
Melos.‡ Hassan falls under the shadow of the fountain. The first light of dawn shines in the sky. Very quietly
0:52
9.
Chorus behind the scenes.† Not too slow
2:08
10.
Narrator: ''The first light of dawn shines in the sky'' *
1:27
11.
Prelude.‡ With Animation - Becoming slower and more sombre
0:50
12.
Narrator: 'The filthy, inanimate bulk of Hassan...' *
0:37
13.
Fanfare preceding the Ballet (Gaily, outside) ‡
0:08
14.
1. Dance of the Beggars.†‡ There enters the most awful selection of Eastern beggars the eye could imagine. Quick and vigorously
1:20
15.
Narrator: ''And then, after the Beggars''*
0:06
16.
2. Chorus of Women.†‡ (Enter a band of fair and dusky beauties.) Quietly
2:22
17.
3. Divertissement.‡ Con moto
2:27
18.
Narrator: 'Rafi is then announced as The King of the Beggars' *
0:58
19.
4. General Dance.†‡ Andante moderato - Allegro - Più mosso
2:53
20.
Narrator: 'Rafi is asked why he hates the Caliph so' *
0:46
21.
Chorus of Beggars and Dancing Girls (from behind the scene, after the descent of the iron curtain).†‡ Comodo
1:21
22.
Narrator: 'This House of the Moving Walls...' *
0:51
23.
Scene 2. The Street of Felicity.‡ Very quietly
0:38
24.
Narrator: 'The SOS message has fallen from the balcony...' *
1:11
25.
Music accompanying Ishak's poem.*‡ Not too slow
1:32
26.
Narrator: ''Yasmin's regard for Hassan has instantly shifted'' *
0:39
27.
Prelude. †‡ Moderato - Slower
1:33
28.
Scene 1. †‡ Curtain
0:43
29.
Narrator: ''Hassan is installed at the Caliph's Palace'' *
0:26
30.
Interlude between Scenes 1 and 2. †‡ Very quietly - Slower
1:43
31.
Narrator: ''The slaves inform Hassan that there is a beautiful lady...'' *
1:05
32.
Scene 2. The great Hall of the Palace. †‡ With vigour - Quieter
2:26
33.
Narrator: ''We are in the Great Hall of the Caliph's Palace'' *
1:00
34.
Fanfares, in the great Hall of the Palace ‡
0:11
35.
Narrator: ''As more and more people gather...'' *
0:29
36.
Entry of the Caliph. ‡ Pompously
0:17
37.
Narrator: ''The Caliph declares the trial of the beggars open'' *
0:09
39.
Narrator: ''Then Rafi, King of the Beggars, is summoned'' *
1:17
40.
Prelude. ‡ Slow - Passionately -
4:14
41.
Narrator: ''In the Palace's dark vaults'' *
0:26
42.
Interlude between Scenes 1 and 2. ‡ Slow and ponderously
1:57
43.
Narrator: ''Sunlight streams through the cell's grating'' *
1:14
44.
Prelude. †‡ Quick - Slower, softer - Not too quick -
2:29
45.
The song of the Muezzin at sunset ‡ -
1:08
46.
Narrator. ''With another sunset approaching'' *
1:51
47.
The Procession of Protracted Death. ‡ March tempo - Slower and slower - Still slower
2:53
48.
Narrator: ''The long, dreadful execution ensues...'' *
1:29
49.
Prelude to the last scene ‡ With flowing movement - Slower - Quicker
3:03
50.
Closing Scene. †‡ Slow -
10:16
Choral: Britten Sinfonia Voices †
Orchestra: Britten Sinfonia ‡
Conductor: Jamie Phillips