He began composing prolifically as a child, and in 1927 began private lessons with frank bridge. Order from your preferred classical music cd store arkivmusic. We asked britten to explain why he used this set of performers. This masterly work was written for the combined musical talents of peter pears and dennis brain. He became a companion of honour in 1952 a member of the order of merit in 1965 and, in the year he died, he was the first musician ever to receive a life peer the title lord britten. Serenade hilary finch provides a personal recommendation from the available recordings of britten s serenade for tenor, horn and strings release date. See all benjamin britten sheet music about benjamin britten 191976 20th century music england. Composed during world war ii at the request of the horn player dennis brain, it is a setting of a selection of six poems by british poets on the subject of.
Britten received many honours both in britain and in other countries. Britten was born in the fishing port of lowestoft in suffolk, on the east coast of england on 22 november 19, the feast day of saint cecilia. This disc offers a wonderful chance to assess brittens exceptional use of poetry and unusual instrumentation. Britten lived in aldeburgh, suffolk, from 1942 until his death. Benjamin britten bio, albums, pictures naxos classical. Benjamin britten was a composer, conductor, pianist and central figure in 20th century british classical music. The three orchestral song cycles collected here are central to the britten canon of recorded repertoire and whereas pears other recordings of the serenade and les illuminations with boyd neel and benjamin britten as conductors have been in circulation, this mono recording with goossens receives its first and muchanticipated release on cd. December 4, 1976, in aldeburgh, england work composed. Benjamin britten four sea interludes from peter grimes, op. Serenade for tenor, horn and strings benjamin britten. He won a significant international reputation while remaining thoroughly english in inspiration, a feat that his immediate predecessors had been unable fully to achieve.
Simple symphony for string orchestra or string quartet chester music. Gedanken zum komponisten benjamin britten franz kaern. Less than a week later, britten premiered the four sea interludes with the london philharmonic in cheltenham, on june, 1945. Britten was born on 22nd november 19 in lowestoft in suffolk, the son of a dentist and a talented amateur musician. Doctor of musical arts performance, may 2009, 49 pp. Mozart, benjamin britten, english chamber orchestra britten conducts mozart. He came from east anglia a region in the east of england and he often thought about the east anglian landscape and the sea when writing his music. The poetry of benjamin brittens nocturne books the. The poetry of benjamin brittens nocturne books the guardian. Benjamin britten ist unbedingt zu denjenigen komponisten. Benjamin brittens sonata in c for cello and piano, op. The work was originally called nocturnes changed to serenade before the first performance, and the nocturnal title saved for another fifteen years for another song cycle.
Benjamin britten and the tenor peter pears, his lover, lifelong companion, and musical inspiration, left england for the united states early in 1939, with no definite plans to return. Benjamin brittens most popular book is war requiem, opus 66. He believed in roots, in associations, in backgrounds, and in personal relationships. As the cardinal act of performance, utterance is an externalizing of musical ideas in the physi. The orchestras program includes one of brittens most distinctive masterpieces, the serenade for tenor, horn and strings, which he wrote in 1943 for his partner, the tenor peter pears, and.
Britten led an inflexible, rigorously selfdisciplined life that included long walks, driving his alvis car at high speed, and several daily dips in his swimming pool on summer days. Choir midi learning files britten ceremony of carols satb. Notes for amustcl students 20057, including background, analysis, style, etc. Composed during world war ii at the request of the horn player dennis brain, it is a setting of a selection of six poems by british poets on the subject of night, including both its calm and its sinister aspects. Benjamin britten four sea interludes from peter grimes. The years after brittens return to england 1942 were preoccupied with the rather slow. In fact the folksong arrangements must have had a not insignificant role in establishing britten with a wider audience. It had its first performance on the 15th october 1943 at the wigmore hall with brain playing and peter pears singing. Benjamin britten, leading british composer of the mid20th century, whose operas were considered the finest english operas since those of henry purcell in the 17th century. Framed by a horn solo played on natural harmonics to evoke an atmosphere of faroff, primeval innocence, the serenade is an extraordinary example of britten s ability to set an anthology of texts bound together by a similar theme, in this case, the world of night, sleep and dreams. He showed musical talent at an early age and studied at the royal college of music in london. Britten, by summarizing some highlights of his life.
Books by benjamin britten author of war requiem, opus 66. Lp, album, club london records, bookofthemonth records cs 6598, 305366. The serenade follows and its linked to the later nocturne by brittens setting of tennysons poem, now sleeps the crimson petal a great choice as it is a piece that was originally written for the serenade, but rejected from a place there and it is based on the breathing phrase for strings that later became the ritornello between the songs of. Benjamin brittens poets, edited by boris ford, contains the more than 350 poems that britten set to music between. In the succeeding nocturne words by alfred lord tennysonaba form, e flat and c majorthe horn echoes and later embellishes its partners jaunty, tripletfilled melody. Benjamin britten bio, albums, pictures naxos classical music. Britten was able to finish several other works, however, including the serenade for tenor, horn, and strings, a prelude and fugue for strings, and the choral work rejoice in the lamb. English chamber orchestra conducted by ralf gothoni, nicholas phan and john thurgood in. Serenade hilary finch provides a personal recommendation from the available recordings of brittens serenade for tenor, horn and strings release date. Jul 28, 20 the orchestras program includes one of brittens most distinctive masterpieces, the serenade for tenor, horn and strings, which he wrote in 1943 for his partner, the tenor peter pears, and.
Oct 24, 2008 britten s love for pears produced an extraordinary legacy. Benjamin britten serenade for tenor, horn, and strings. Serenade for tenor, horn and strings benjamin britten s music of the early s was dominated by peter grimes, but there were other substantial pieces from this period too. Britten had offered him a concerto, but ended up giving him the serenade one of the most enduring showcases for the french horn in the twentieth century repertoire. The serenade for tenor, horn and strings dates from 1943. Benjamin britten has 194 books on goodreads with 399 ratings. Benjamin britten 19 1976 benjamin britten must be accepted as the most outstanding english composer working in the mid20th century. Pdf britten serenade for tenor, horn and strings for. Benjamin britten simple english wikipedia, the free. Benjamin britten short biography of britten edward benjamin britten was born at lowestoft, suffolk on november 22, 19. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Benjamin britten sheet music and music books at sheet music plus. Edward benjamin britten, baron britten of aldeburgh, om ch born lowestoft, 22 november 19.
Aug 26, 2007 britten lived in aldeburgh, suffolk, from 1942 until his death. Top a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z chart. Framed by a horn solo played on natural harmonics to evoke an atmosphere of faroff, primeval innocence, the serenade is an extraordinary example of brittens ability to set an anthology of texts bound together by a similar theme, in this case, the world of night, sleep and dreams. Brittens early works were often written for instruments. Brittens musical language music, like speech, begins in the moment of utterance. Print instantly, or sync to our free pc, web and mobile apps. I n 1994, a rather unusual anthology of poetry was published by carcanet press.
Benjamin britten was born in lowestoft, suffolk, on the east coast of england, on 22 november 19. Serenade for tenor, horn, and strings benjamin britten. He wrote a lot of music for his longterm partner, the tenor. Choose from lord benjamin britten sheet music for such popular songs as early one morning, nocturne, and at the mid hour of night. French horn, piano, strings, voice sheet music book by benjamin britten 191976. Britten serenade for tenor horn strings nocturne finzi. The serenade follows and its linked to the later nocturne by britten s setting of tennysons poem, now sleeps the crimson petal a great choice as it is a piece that was originally written for the serenade, but rejected from a place there and it is based on the breathing phrase for strings that later became the ritornello between the songs of.
Music formed an important part of his early experience, his mother was an amateur singer, and he was encouraged to explore and even compose before formal tuition on piano and viola. Benjamin britten was born in the town of lowestoft, in suffolk, england on november 22, 19. Edward benjamin britten, baron britten om ch 22 november 19 4 december 1976 was an english composer, conductor, and pianist. Benjamin britten, in full edward benjamin britten, baron britten of aldeburgh, born november 22, 19, lowestoft, suffolk, englanddied december 4, 1976, aldeburgh, suffolk, leading british composer of the mid20th century, whose operas were considered the finest english operas since those of henry purcell in the 17th century. The choral music of benjamin britten hal leonard online. Robert brittens youthful ambition to become a farmer had been thwarted by lack of capital, and he had instead trained as a. The publication of the first volume, together with the appearance of the serenade for tenor, horn and strings, marked 1943 as a turning point in the development of brittens public. Britten composed as a child and at the age of 12 began several years of. Benjamin britten serenade for tenor, horn and strings op. On his way back from america in 1942, britten began two choral works, hymn to saint cecilia and a ceremony of carols, that were premiered the same year.
Although he was already composing vigorously as a child, he nonetheless felt the importance of some solid guidance and in 1928 turned to the composer frank bridge. Britten composed it in a somewhat heightened state. Shop our newest and most popular lord benjamin britten sheet music such as early one morning, nocturne and at the mid hour of night, or click the. Nocturne, an album by benjamin britten, sir peter pears, barry tuckwell, london symphony orchestra, english chamber orchestra on spotify. Benjamin britten and the tenor peter pears, his lover, lifelong companion, and musical inspiration, left england for the united states early in 1939, with no definite. We and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics. Browse all lord benjamin britten sheet music musicnotes features the worlds largest online digital sheet music catalogue with over 300,000 arrangements available to print and play instantly. Britten composed the opera peter grimes in 1944 and 1945. The serenade for tenor, horn and strings by benjamin britten is one of the many works written for the great horn player of the twentieth century, dennis brain. Not until he was hospitalized with measles early in 1943 did britten began to. Benjamin britten composer 191976 play streams in full or download mp3 from classical archives, the largest and best organized classical music site on the web. Edward benjamin britten, baron britten of aldeburgh, om 191976 was a british composer, conductor, and pianist. Benjamin britten serenade for tenor, horn, and strings, op. With the arrival of benjamin britten on the international music scene, many felt that english music gained its greatest genius since purcell.
His bestknown works include the opera peter grimes 1945. He was a central figure of 20thcentury british classical music, with a range of works including opera, other vocal music, orchestral and chamber pieces. That britten was inspired by a muse applies no less, a great deal more in fact, to peter pears in particular. Nocturne to enjoy in your home or car, or gift it to another music lover. Benjamin britten sheet music and music books at sheet. Benjamin brittens music of the early 1940s was dominated by peter grimes, but there were other substantial pieces from this period too. Reginald goodall conducted the premiere of peter grimes at the sadlers wells theatre in london on june 7, 1945. But moraleboosting concerts with tenor peter pears both were conscientious objectors and already lifelong partners preoccupied them for the next 11 months. A cradle song william blake benjamin britten sheet music. A composer of wideranging talents, britten found in the human voice an especial source of inspiration, an affinity that resulted in a remarkable body of work, ranging from operas like peter grimes 19441945 and death in venice 1973 to song cycles. Original works, recordings and arrangements by this person cannot be uploaded here until january 1, 2027 without confirmed permission of the owner.
701 1461 17 374 556 207 336 488 1090 766 980 984 442 246 1191 472 504 312 651 1338 1068 176 331 1519 1256 82 1118 979 870 183 253 749 1115 191 325 393 1228 1177