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 fame forhis 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 to callit 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.
