Monthly Archives: July 2013

Britten from scratch part 1: Jamie Sellers

Posted on July 31, 2013 by goodmorningbritten

Britten at The Red House, (c) The Britten-Pears Foundation As a complement to Around Britten in 80 Songs, which kicks into gear next week, I have enlisted a few friends from the pop side of the fence to listen to … Continue reading →

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Listening to Britten – Night covers up the rigid land

Posted on July 31, 2013 by goodmorningbritten

(c) Ben Hogwood Night covers up the rigid land – song for high voice and piano (27 October 1937, Britten aged 23) Dedication not known Text W.H. Auden Language English Duration 2’30” Audio clip (Ian Bostridge (tenor) and Graham Johnson … Continue reading →

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Listening to Britten – To lie flat on the back with the knees flexed

Posted on July 31, 2013 by goodmorningbritten

(c) Ben Hogwood To lie flat on the back with the knees flexed – song for high voice and piano (26 October 1937, Britten aged 23) Dedication not known Text W.H. Auden Language English Duration 2’30” Audio clip (Ian Bostridge … Continue reading →

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Listening to Britten – On This Island, Op.11

Posted on July 30, 2013 by goodmorningbritten

Seaton Delaval (1941) by John Piper (c) The John Piper Estate On This Island, Op.11 – five songs for voice and piano (5 May – 12 October 1937, Britten aged 23) 1 Let the florid music praise! 2 Now the … Continue reading →

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Listening to Britten – Not even summer yet

Posted on July 29, 2013 by goodmorningbritten

Winter scene on the Fens (c) Ben Hogwood Not even summer yet – song for high voice and piano (9 October 1937, Britten aged 23) Dedication in memory of Peter Burra Text Peter Burra Language English Duration 2′ Audio clip … Continue reading →

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Listening to Britten – The sun shines down

Posted on July 29, 2013 by goodmorningbritten

(c) Ben Hogwood The sun shines down – song for high voice and piano (October 1937, Britten aged 23) Dedication not known Text W.H. Auden Language English Duration 2′ Background and Critical Reception This short but profound Auden setting appears … Continue reading →

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Listening to Britten – The Company of Heaven

Posted on July 28, 2013 by goodmorningbritten

Detail of St Peter’s Church, Thetford (c) Brian Hogwood The Company of Heaven – Incidental music for speakers, soprano, tenor, chorus, timpani, organ and strings (8 August – 22 September 1937, Britten aged 23) Part I – Before the Creation … Continue reading →

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Britten through the eyes of…Matthew Barley

Posted on July 28, 2013 by goodmorningbritten

Photo (c) Nick White Rather like this blog, cellist Matthew Barley is spending a whole year with the music of Britten. His time with the composer is in a playing capacity, however, for he has devised a concert program and … Continue reading →

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Listening to Britten – Variations on a theme of Frank Bridge, Op.10

Posted on July 26, 2013 by goodmorningbritten

Britten and Frank Bridge, picture courtesy of the Britten-Pears Foundation Variations on a theme of Frank Bridge, Op.10 (5 June – 12 July 1937, Britten aged 23) Introduction and theme Variation 1: Adagio Variation 2: March Variation 3: Romance Variation … Continue reading →

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Listening to Britten – Funeral Blues

Posted on July 25, 2013 by goodmorningbritten

Britten and Auden, late 1930s (photograph courtesy of the Britten-Pears Foundation) Funeral Blues – song for voice and piano (17 June 1937, Britten aged 23) Dedication not known Text W.H. Auden Language English Duration 3′ Background and Critical Reception Funeral … Continue reading →

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