Category Archives: Chamber or string orchestra

Listening to Britten – Variation on an Elizabethan Theme

Posted on November 9, 2013 by goodmorningbritten

The Royal Cypher of Queen Elizabeth II Variation on an Elizabethan Theme for string orchestra (January 1953, Britten aged 29) – part of Variations on an Elizabethan Theme, a multi-composer work: Theme – Byrd, arr. Imogen Holst Variation 1: Allegro … Continue reading →

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Listening to Britten – Prelude and Fugue, Op.29

Posted on September 24, 2013 by goodmorningbritten

(c) Brian Hogwood Prelude and Fugue for 18-part string orchestra, Op.29 (May 1943, Britten aged 29) Dedication To Boyd Neel and his orchestra, on the occasion of their 10th birthday, 23 June 1943 Duration 9′ Audio clip: using Britten’s own … Continue reading →

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Listening to Britten – Frühlingsnacht

Posted on September 17, 2013 by goodmorningbritten

(c) Ben Hogwood Frühlingsnacht – arrangement of Schumann’s song, Op.39 no.12, for voice and orchestra (June 1942, Britten aged 28) Text Joseph Eichendorff Dedication not known Duration 1’30” Background and Critical Reception Another arrangement of Britten’s for voice and small … Continue reading →

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Listening to Britten – Die forelle

Posted on September 16, 2013 by goodmorningbritten

Rainbow trout, courtesy of Wikipedia Die forelle (The trout) – arrangement of Schubert’s song, D550, for voice and orchestra (June 1942, Britten aged 28) Text Christian Friedrich Daniel Schubart Dedication not known Duration 4′ Background and Critical Reception The date … Continue reading →

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Listening to Britten – What the wild flowers tell me

Posted on September 12, 2013 by goodmorningbritten

(c) Ben Hogwood What the wild flowers tell me (arrangement of second movement of Mahler’s Symphony no.3 for reduced orchestra) (September – pre 9 December 1941, Britten aged 28) Dedication not known Duration 10′ Background and Critical Reception Mahler’s stock … 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 – Simple Symphony, Op.4

Posted on June 10, 2013 by goodmorningbritten

(c) Brian Hogwood Simple Symphony, Op.4 for string orchestra or string quartet (23 Dec 1933 – 10 Feb 1934, Britten aged 20) 1 Boisterous Bourrée 2. Playful Pizzicato 3. Sentimental Sarabande 4. Frolicsome Finale Dedication Audrey Alston (Mrs Lincolne Sutton) … Continue reading →

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Listening to Britten – Sinfonietta, Op.1

Posted on June 2, 2013 by goodmorningbritten

(c) Brian Hogwood Sinfonietta, Op.1 for chamber ensemble (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn and string quintet) (20 June – 9 July 1932, Britten aged 18) 1 Poco presto ed agitato 2 Variations 3 Tarantella Dedication Frank Bridge Duration 15′ Audio … Continue reading →

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Listening to Britten – Two Portraits for strings

Posted on May 8, 2013 by goodmorningbritten

(c) Brian Hogwood Two Portraits for strings (19 August – 10 September 1930, Britten aged 16) Dedication David Layton (no.1), Self-portrait (no.2) Duration 15′ Background and Critical Reception Like many of the early Britten works under scrutiny here, the Two … Continue reading →

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Listening to Britten – Untitled fragment for strings

Posted on April 11, 2013 by goodmorningbritten

Photo (c) Ben Hogwood Untitled fragment for strings (1930, Britten aged 16) Dedication not known Duration 2’30” Background and Critical Reception As Britten falls more under the influence of Frank Bridge, so his music becomes more questing and experimental. This … Continue reading →

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