List of compositions by Benjamin Britten
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This list of compositions by Benjamin Britten includes all the works by English composer Benjamin Britten with opus number.
Contents |
[edit] Categorised
[edit] Operas and Church Parables
- Paul Bunyan (1941), an operetta based on the American folktale
- Peter Grimes (1945), an opera based on George Crabbe's The Borough
- The Rape of Lucretia (1946), after the play Le Viol de Lucrèce by André Obey
- Albert Herring (1947), after Guy de Maupassant's story Le Rosier de Mme. Husson
- Let's Make an Opera (The Little Sweep) (1949), an opera for children
- Billy Budd (1951), after Herman Melville's novella
- Gloriana (1953), after Lytton Strachey's Elizabeth and Essex, written for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
- The Turn of the Screw (1954), based on the novella by Henry James
- Noye's Fludde (1958), for community performance, based on a mystery play
- A Midsummer Night's Dream (1960), after Shakespeare
- Curlew River (1964), based on a Japanese Noh play
- The Burning Fiery Furnace (1966), after the Book of Daniel, Chapter 3
- The Prodigal Son (1968), after the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 15
- Owen Wingrave (1971) an opera for television, after the short story by Henry James
- Death in Venice (1973), based on Thomas Mann's novella
- An unrealized Christmas opera, intended forces unknown (1976)
[edit] Orchestral
- Sinfonietta, for chamber orchestra (1932)
- Simple Symphony, for string orchestra (1934)
- Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, for string orchestra (1937)
- Sinfonia da Requiem(1940)
- Prelude and Fugue for 18 Strings (1943)
- Four Sea Interludes and Passacaglia from Peter Grimes, for orchestra (1945)
- The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra (1946)
- Symphonic Suite from Gloriana (1954)
- Suite on English Folk Tunes, A Time There Was..., for chamber orchestra (1966/1974)
[edit] Concertante
- Double Concerto for Violin, Viola and Orchestra
- Piano Concerto (1938, rev. 1945)
- Violin Concerto (1939, rev. 1958)
- Young Apollo, for piano and string orchestra (1939)
- Diversions for piano (left hand) and orchestra (1940 rev. 1954)
- Clarinet Concerto (incomplete: 1st movement only, 1942/3, orch. by Colin Matthews)
- Cello Symphony (1963)
[edit] Vocal/Choral Orchestral
- Our Hunting Fathers, for soprano or tenor and orchestra (words W. H. Auden) (1936)
- Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings (1943)
- Saint Nicolas, for tenor soloist, children's chorus, chorus, and orchestra (1948)
- Spring Symphony, for soprano, contralto, and tenor soloists, chorus and orchestra (1949)
- Nocturne, for tenor, 7 obligato instruments & strings (1958)
- War Requiem (1961) for soprano, tenor and baritone soloists, boys' chorus, chorus, chamber ensemble, and orchestra
- Cantata misericordium for tenor and baritone soloists, small chorus, string quartet, string orchestra, piano, harp, timpani (1963)
- Phaedra for mezzo-soprano, cello, harpsichord, percussion, and string orchestra (Robert Lowell after Jean Racine's Phèdre, 1975)
- Praise we great men, for soloists, chorus and orchestra (Edith Sitwell) (1976, completed by Colin Matthews 1985)
- Sea Symphony, for soloists, chorus and orchestra (unrealized, 1976)
[edit] Vocal
- On this Island for high voice and piano (1937)
- Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo for tenor and piano (1940)
- The Holy Sonnets of John Donne for tenor and piano (1945)
- Canticle I: My beloved is mine for tenor and piano (1947)
- A Charm of Lullabies for mezzo-soprano and piano (1947)
- Canticle II: Abraham and Isaac for alto (or countertenor), tenor, and piano (1952)
- Winter Words for high voice and piano (1953)
- Canticle III: Still falls the rain for tenor, horn and piano (words Edith Sitwell) (1954)
- Winter Words for tenor and piano, poetry by Thomas Hardy (1954)
- The Heart of the Matter for narrator, tenor, horn, and piano (1956)
- Sechs Hölderlin-Fragmente for tenor and piano (1958)
- Songs and Proverbs of William Blake for baritone and piano (1965)
- The Poet's Echo for soprano and piano (1965)
- Canticle IV: Journey of the Magi for countertenor, tenor, baritone, and piano (1971)
- Canticle V: The Death of Saint Narcissus for tenor and harp (1974)
- A Birthday Hansel for high voice and harp (1975)
- Eight books of Folksong Arrangements from the British Isles and France. For voice and piano, guitar and harp.
[edit] Choral
- A Boy Was Born for treble voices and choir (1933/55)
- Friday Afternoons for children's voices and piano (1935)
- A Ceremony of Carols for treble voices and harp (1942); an alternate arrangement for mixed voices and harp (or piano) is popular as well
- Hymn to St. Cecilia for unaccompanied choir; poem by W. H. Auden (1942)
- Rejoice in the Lamb for 4 soloists, choir, and organ; text by Christopher Smart (1943)
- Missa Brevis for boys' voices and organ (1959)
- Sacred and Profane (8 medieval lyrics) for SSATB (1974-5)
[edit] Chamber/Instrumental
- Fanfare for St Edmundsbury (1959) short antiphonal and polytonal piece for three trumpets
- Cello Sonata in C Major (1960)
- Nocturnal after John Dowland for guitar (1963)
- Cello Suite No. 1 (1964)
- Cello Suite No. 2 (1967)
- Cello Suite No. 3 (1971)
- Six Metamorphoses after Ovid for solo Oboe, with quotations from Ovid's Metamorphoses poem.
[edit] Film music
- Night Mail (1936), with words by W. H. Auden
[edit] By opus number
- Op. 1, Sinfonietta, 1932
- Op. 2, Phantasy, oboe quartet, 1932
- Op. 3, A Boy was Born for mixed chorus with organ ad lib, 1933, revised 1955
- Op. 4, Simple Symphony for strings, 1934
- Op. 5, Holiday Diary for piano, 1934
- Op. 6, Suite for violin and piano, 1935
- Op. 7, Friday Afternoons for children's voices and piano, 1935
- Op. 8, Our Hunting Fathers for soprano or tenor and orchestra (words W. H. Auden), 1936
- Op. 9, Soirées musicales for orchestra (after Gioacchino Rossini), 1936
- Op. 10, Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge for string orchestra, 1937
- Op. 11, On this Island for soprano or tenor and piano (words W. H. Auden), 1937
- Op. 12, Mont Juic (after Catalan dances, with Lennox Berkeley), 1937
- Op. 13, Piano Concerto, 1938, revised 1945
- Op. 14, Ballad of Heroes for tenor or soprano, chorus and orchestra (words W. H. Auden and Randall Swingler), 1939
- Op. 15, Violin Concerto, 1939, revised 1958
- Op. 16, Young Apollo for piano and strings, 1939 (withdrawn)
- Op. 17, Paul Bunyan, opera (libretto W. H. Auden), 1941, revised 1976
- Op. 18, Les Illuminations, for soprano or tenor and strings (words Arthur Rimbaud), 1939
- Op. 19, Canadian Carnival overture, 1939
- Op. 20, Sinfonia da Requiem, 1940
- Op. 21, Diversions for piano (left hand) and orchestra, 1940, revised 1954
- Op. 22, Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo for tenor and piano, 1940
- Op. 23
- No. 1, Introduction and Rondo alla burlesca for two pianos, 1940
- No. 2, Mazurka elegaica for two pianos, 1941
- Op. 24, Matinées musicales for orchestra (after Rossini), 1941
- Op. 25, String Quartet No. 1, 1941
- Op. 26, Scottish Ballad for two pianos and orchestra, 1941
- (Op. 27, An American Overture, 1941 [first performance 1983])
- Op. 27, Hymn to St. Cecilia for SSATB, 1942
- Op. 28, A Ceremony of Carols for trebles and harp, 1942
- Op. 29, Prelude and Fugue for 18 strings, 1943
- Op. 30, Rejoice in the Lamb for soloists, chorus and organ, 1943
- Op. 31, Serenade for tenor, horn and strings, song cycle, 1943
- Op. 32, Festival Te Deum for chorus and organ, 1945
- Op. 33, Peter Grimes, opera (libretto Montagu Slater after George Crabbe), 1945
- Op. 33a, Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes
- Op. 33b, Passacaglia from Peter Grimes
- Op. 34, Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Henry Purcell (The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra), 1946
- Op. 35, The Holy Sonnets of John Donne for soprano or tenor and piano, 1945
- Op. 36, String Quartet No. 2, 1945
- Op. 37, The Rape of Lucretia, opera (libretto Ronald Duncan after André Obey), 1946 revised 1947
- Op. 38, Occasional Overture, 1946
- Op. 39, Albert Herring, opera (libretto Eric Crozier after Guy de Maupassant), 1947
- Op. 40, My beloved is mine (Canticle I) for soprano or tenor and piano (words Francis Quarles), 1947
- Op. 41, A Charm of Lullabies for mezzo soprano and piano, 1947
- Op. 42, St. Nicolas for soloists, chorus, strings, piano (4 hands), percussion and organ, 1948
- Op. 43, The Beggar's Opera after John Gay, 1948
- Op. 44, Spring Symphony for soloists, mixed choir, children's choir and orchestra, 1949
- Op. 45, The Little Sweep, opera (libretto Eric Crozier), 1949
- Op. 46, A Wedding anthem Amo Ergo Sum for soprano, tenor chorus and organ (words Ronald Duncan), 1949
- Op. 47, Five Flower Songs for SATB, 1950
- Op. 48, Lachrymae for viola and piano, 1950
- Op. 48a, Lachrymae for viola and strings, 1976
- Op. 49, Six Metamorphoses after Ovid for oboe, 1951
- Op. 50, Billy Budd, opera (libretto E. M. Forster and Eric Crozier after Hermann Melville), 1951, revised 1960
- Op. 51, Abraham and Isaac (Canticle II) for alto, tenor and piano (Chester miracle play), 1952
- Op. 52, Winter Words for soprano or tenor and piano (words Thomas Hardy), 1953
- Op. 53, Gloriana, opera (libretto William Plomer after Lytton Strachey), 1953
- Op. 53a, Symphonic Suite "Gloriana" for tenor or oboe and orchestra, 1954
- Op. 54, The Turn of the Screw, opera (libretto Myfanwy Piper after Henry James), 1954
- Op. 55, Still Falls the Rain (Canticle III) for tenor, horn and piano (words Edith Sitwell), 1954
- Op. 56,
- Op. 56a, Hymn to St. Peter for treble, SATB and organ, 1955
- Op. 56b, Antiphon for SATB and organ, 1955
- Op. 57, The Prince of the Pagodas, ballet, 1956
- Op. 57a, Pas de six from The Prince of the Pagodas
- Op. 58, Songs from the Chinese for soprano or tenor and guitar, 1957
- Op. 59, Noye's Fludde, opera (Chester mystery play), 1957
- Op. 60, Nocturne for tenor, 7 obbligato instruments and string orchestra, song cycle, 1958
- Op. 61, Sechs Hölderlin-Fragmente, 1958
- Op. 62, Cantata academica, 1959
- Op. 63, Missa brevis for boys' voices and organ, 1959
- Op. 64, A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera (libretto Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears after William Shakespeare), 1960
- Op. 65, Sonata for cello and piano, 1961
- Op. 66, War Requiem, 1961
- Op. 67, Psalm CL for children's chorus and instruments, 1962
- Op. 68, Cello Symphony, 1963
- Op. 69, Cantata misericordium, 1963
- Op. 70, Nocturnal after John Dowland for guitar, 1963
- Op. 71, Curlew River, church parable (libretto William Plomer after Noh), 1964
- Op. 72, Cello Suite No. 1, 1964
- Op. 73, Gemini Variations for flute, violin and piano four hands, 1965
- Op. 74, Songs and Proverbs of William Blake for baritone and piano, 1965
- Op. 75, Voices for Today for boys' voices, chorus and organ ad lib, 1965
- Op. 76, The Poet's Echo for soprano or tenor and piano (words Aleksandr Pushkin), 1965
- Op. 77, The Burning Fiery Furnace, church parable (libretto William Plomer after The Book of Daniel), 1966
- Op. 78, The Golden Vanity for boys' voices and piano (words Colin Graham), 1966
- Op. 79, The Building of the House for chorus or organ or brass and orchestra, 1967
- Op. 80, Cello Suite No. 2, 1967
- Op. 81, The Prodigal Son, church parable (libretto William Plomer), 1968
- Op. 82, Children's Crusade (words Bertold Brecht/Hans Keller), 1968
- Op. 83, Suite for harp, 1969
- Op. 84, Who are these Children? for tenor and piano (words William Soutar), 1969
- Op. 85, Owen Wingrave, opera (libretto Myfanwy Piper based on Henry James), 1970
- Op. 86, The Journey of the Magi (Canticle IV) for countertenor, tenor, baritone and piano (words T. S. Eliot), 1971
- Op. 87, Cello Suite No. 3, 1972
- Op. 88, Death in Venice, opera (libretto Myfanwy Piper based on Thomas Mann), 1973
- Op. 89, The Death of Narcissus (Canticle V) for tenor and harp (words T. S. Eliot), 1974
- Op. 90, A Suite on English Folk Tunes "A Time There Was" for chamber orchestra, 1974
- Op. 91, Sacred and Profane for five voices, 1975
- Op. 92, A Birthday Hansel for high voice and harp (words Robert Burns), 1975
- Op. 93, Phaedra, cantata (words Robert Lowell after Jean Racine), 1975
- Op. 94, String Quartet No. 3, 1975
- Op. 95, Welcome Ode for young people's voices and orchestra, 1976
[edit] References
- Diane McVeagh (ed.) (1986). English Masters (New Grove Composer Biography). Grove Publications. ISBN 0-333-40241-3.