Background
Britten, Edward Benjamin was born on November 22, 1913 in Lowestoft, England. Son of Robert Victor and Edith Rhoda (Hockey) Britten.
Britten, Edward Benjamin was born on November 22, 1913 in Lowestoft, England. Son of Robert Victor and Edith Rhoda (Hockey) Britten.
Student Gresham’s School, Holt and Royal College of Music, London, England. Engaged in work on documentary films, 1934-1935. Free lance composer for films, radio and theater, 1934-1976.
Came to the United States, 1939.
Returned to England, 1942. Concert tour United States with tenor Peter Pears, 1949.
Decorated Companion of Honour. Order of Merit; recipient Aspen award, 1964.
Member Church of England.
Composer. Orchestra: Sinfonietta. Soirees Musicales and Matinees Musicales (2 suites after Rossini).
Mont Juic (with Lennox Berkeley).
Canadian Carnival. Sinfonia da Requiem. Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, string orchestra. Simple Symphony; Variations on a Theme by Frank Bridge.
Prelude and Fugue.
Chamber music: Phantasy. Suite; Six Metamorphoses after Ovid. String Quartets Nos. 1 and 2, Lachrymae.
Golden Sonata.
Organ: Prelude and Fugue on a Theme of Vittoria, Missa Brevis. Concerti: Piano Concerto. Violin Concerto; Diversion.
Scottish Ballad.
Cello Symphony. Piano: Holiday Dairy. Introduction and Rondo alla Burlesca.
Mazurka Elegiaca. Chorus: A Boy Was Born.
Our Hunting Fathers (text West.H. Auden). Ballad of Heroes; Hymn to Saint Cecilia.
Ceremony of Carols. Rejoice In the Lamb (text Christopher Smart).
Festival Te Deum; Saint Nicolas Cantata. Spring Symphony; Five Flower Songs.
I Lov’d A Lass. Lifi Boy. Advance Democracy.
Ballad of Little Musgrave. A Wedding Anthem; Cantata Academica.
War Requiem. A Hymn of Saint Columba.
Cantata Misercordium. Vocal: Friday Afternoons.
On This Island. Les Illuminations, (text Rimbaud).
Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo. Holy Sonnets of John Donne.
Canticle I (Text Francis Quarles). Canticle II (text from Chester Miracle play).
Canticle III (Still Falls the Rain-East. Sitwell), 1954.
Nocturne. Serenade; The Birds, Fish in the Unruffled Lakes. Under the Abject Willow.
Mother Comfort; Charm of Lullabies.
3 Volunteers of Folk Song arrangements (British Isles and France). Realisations of Purcells vocal and instrumental works. Operas; Peter Grimes (polled 1st choice in Metropolitan Opera Broadcasts, 1948).
Rape of Lucretia.
Beggar’s Opera (after Gay). Albert Herring; Let’s Make An Opera (The Little Sweep). Billy Budd; Gloriana (presented for Coronation of Queen Elizabeth, 1953).
The Turn of the Screw, 1954.
The Prince of the Pagodas (3 act ballet). Noye’s Fludde (opera), 1958.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 1960. Notturno (piano), 1963.
Nocturnal (guitar), 1964.
Curlew River (opera), 1964. Suite for Cello Solo, 1965. Gemini Variations, 1965.
Songs and Proverbs by William Blake, 1965.
Voices for Today, 1965. The Poet’s Echo, 1965.
The Burning Fiery Furnace (opera), 1966. The Golden Vanity, 1966.
The Building of the House (overture), 1967.
Second Suite for Cello, 1967. The Prodigal Son (opera), 1968.
Suite for Harp, 1969. Owen Wingrave (opera), 1970. Home: Aldeburgh Suffolk England.
Member Church