An Old Song For Small Orchestra

An Old Song is an atmospheric piece based on a lowland Scottish folk song. Composed in 1917, it is one of the earliest works of the English composer Peter Warlock (1894-1930), who also achieved fameforhis scandalous lifestyle. Scored for a Small Orchestra, it is rarely performed nowadays. Warlock was an ardent admirer of Delius throughout his career, and his influences are plain to see here some wit was known tocallit “On Hearing the Second Cuckoo in Spring”. Nonetheless, this work is often seen to mark the start of the composer's independent creative process, and as such requires great musical sensitivity when performed.