Syphillis infects the cup

Pimp Daddy Delius aka Mr. White Folks is making his debut here in the World Cup of Composers. Maybe pimp daddy is the wrong moniker.

Since this is classical music I will say that Delius was an amorous young lad who enjoyed the company of ladies and for his exploits he died of syphilis blind and crippled at the age of 72.

Delius has been described as a "love him or don’t care about him" composer. The legendary Sir Thomas Beecham loved him and championed his music. Beecham’s collection of Delius recordings on EMI are considered to be some of the finest performances ever recorded.

I myself am a fan of Delius. His life was as romantic as his music. He was born in England but lived in Florida and France. In spite of his living abroad his music always sounds of England. Always.

As with Vaughan Williams, Delius set some of Walt Williams poetry in his piece entitled Sea Drift.

William Byrd was Thomas Tallis’ student at the Chapel Royal at Hampton Court. Byrd also shares the feast day in the Episcopal Church with Tallis. However, Byrd associated himself with Catholicism to the point that he was officially put on a watch list during Elizabeth’s reign.

Byrd also set himself the task of setting all the principal feasts in the Catholic liturgical calendar.

Byrd was famous during his lifetime but his influence did not reach beyond his grave.

Tallis did make it through to round two but Byrd will not. Delius advances and hopefully he doesn’t infect the other composers with his love disease.