Category Archives: Context

Listening to Britten – What is a Canticle?

Posted on October 25, 2013 by goodmorningbritten

Antechapel window, Robinson College Chapel, Cambridge, 1978-80 by John Piper. (c) The Piper Estate As Listening to Britten approaches another important area of the composer’s output, I thought it would be useful to get some context on what constitutes a … Continue reading →

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An introduction to Britten and the folksong – a new take on old music?

Posted on August 30, 2013 by goodmorningbritten

On The River Yare, Norfolk by Alfred Stannard. Photo (c) Norfolk Museums & Archaeology Service (Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery) Listening to Britten is not long underway with the composer’s realizations of Purcell’s music, but now we approach another … Continue reading →

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Purcell + Britten = ?

Posted on August 23, 2013 by goodmorningbritten

Purcell and Britten Listening To Britten is now well into the hundreds in terms of the number of pieces heard and experienced – but there are still several major aspects of Britten’s life and output yet to be revealed. We … Continue reading →

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Setting The Scene – English music in 1930 as Britten goes to college

Posted on May 5, 2013 by goodmorningbritten

With Listening to Britten having reached the verge of the composer’s move to the Royal College of Music, it seems an appropriate time for Good Morning Britten to pan out a little and look afresh at the musical climate in … Continue reading →

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Foundations – Britten and Frank Bridge

Posted on March 13, 2013 by goodmorningbritten

“If anything happened to my musical father, I don’t know what I should do”. The teenage Britten’s dependency on Frank Bridge, fully revealed in this quote from 1930, illustrating the extent to which his teacher was becoming his musical guiding … Continue reading →

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Foundations – Britten and his musical dislikes

Posted on March 12, 2013 by goodmorningbritten

It is all well and good looking at a composer and his potential influences, but it is just as instructive to look at the other, possibly more negative side. With Britten, there is much information that tells us exactly who … Continue reading →

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Foundations – Britten and John Ireland

Posted on March 10, 2013 by goodmorningbritten

“Either the boy is awarded a scholarship, or I resign”. The words of John Ireland, the first prominent composer to grasp the full musical potential of the young Benjamin Britten – who, in the event, did not have to relinquish … Continue reading →

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Foundations – Britten and Elgar, Vaughan Williams and Holst

Posted on March 6, 2013 by goodmorningbritten

Gustav Holst To put it politely, Britten had a mixed relationship with the music of Elgar and Vaughan Williams. There are many dismissive quotes from him about the music of both – and indeed it could be said they were … Continue reading →

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Foundations – Britten and Debussy

Posted on March 4, 2013 by goodmorningbritten

There is little evidence to suggest the music of Debussy had a lasting influence on the music of Britten, but four recordings exist that speak of Britten’s obvious affection and respect for the French composer. One of those recordings, a … Continue reading →

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Foundations – Britten and Mahler

Posted on March 3, 2013 by goodmorningbritten

The Mahler revival reached England in the early 1960s – but Britten could with good reason claim to be 30 years ahead of that particular game. When the composer was far less fashionable in the 1930s, Britten spotted what many … Continue reading →

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