Eventyr: Once Upon a Time
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Eventyr: Once Upon a Time is a tone poem for orchestra composed by Frederick Delius in 1917. It was given its premiere in London on 11 January 1919, under the direction of Henry Wood. "Eventyr" means "adventure", and the inspiration for the piece was a fairy tale from Norway.
| Eventyr: Once Upon a Time | |
|---|---|
| Once Upon a Time | |
| by Frederick Delius | |
| Composed | 1917 |
| Dedication | Henry Wood |
| Performed | 11 January 1919: Queen's Hall, London |
| Scoring | Picc. 2. 2. CA. 3. BsCl. 3. Sarrusophone—4.3.3.1-Timp. BD. Cym. Trgl. Tamt. SD. Tbno. Xylophone. Glockenspiel. Bells—2 Harps, Celesta—Strings—TB.[1] |
Delius' first sketches for the work date from 1915. His manuscripts classifies the work as a "Ballad for Orchestra".[1] The score's title is followed by the indication, "After Asbjørnsen's Folklore".[2]
After a twenty-bar introduction, a fantastic theme is played first by the bassoons and then by the other woodwinds. The second subject is presented by the strings and gains in intensity with the addition of another subject in counterpoint. Several climactic moments follow before the creation of a fairy world, dominated by a descending chromatic theme for strings, celesta, and harp. The piece is concluded with the return of earlier material, followed by a quiet closing section.
