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] By genre

[edit] Operas

[edit] Church parables

[edit] Ballets

  • Plymouth Town (Ballet for small orchestra) (1931)
  • The Prince of the Pagodas (1956)

[edit] Orchestral

  • Sinfonietta, for chamber orchestra (1932)
  • Simple Symphony, for string orchestra (1934)
  • Soirées Musicales, after Rossini (1936)
  • Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, for string orchestra (1937)
  • Mont Juic, after Catalan Dances (1937)
  • Canadian Carnival (1939)
  • Sinfonia da Requiem (1940)
  • Matinées musicales, after Rossini (1941)
  • An American Overture (1941)
  • 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)
  • Occasional Overture (1946)
  • Men of Goodwill (1947)
  • 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 (1932, incpt, realised by Colin Matthews)
  • Piano Concerto (1938, rev. 1945)
  • Violin Concerto (1939, rev. 1958)
  • Young Apollo, for piano, string quartet and string orchestra (1939)
  • Diversions for piano (left hand) and orchestra (1940 rev. 1954)
  • Scottish Ballad, for two pianos and orchestra (1941)
  • Clarinet Concerto (incomplete: 1st movement only, 1942/3, orch. by Colin Matthews)
  • Cello Symphony (1963)

[edit] Vocal/Choral Orchestral

  • Quatre Chansons Françaises, for soprano and orchestra (1928)
  • Our Hunting Fathers, for soprano or tenor and orchestra (words W. H. Auden) (1936)
  • The Company of Heaven, for speakers, soloists, chorus and orchestra (1937, not performed again until 1989)
  • Les Illuminations, for soprano or tenor and strings (words Arthur Rimbaud) (1939)
  • 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, mixed chorus, boys' choir and orchestra (1949)
  • Nocturne, for tenor, 7 obbligato instruments & strings (1958)
  • War Requiem (1961) for soprano, tenor and baritone soloists, chamber ensemble, boys' chorus, mixed chorus, 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

  • Hymn to the Virgin for chorus and soli (1930?)
  • A Boy Was Born for treble voices and choir (1933/55)
  • Jubilate Deo, for chorus and organ, (1934)
  • Te Deum in C, for chorus, trumpet, and organ, (1934)
  • Friday Afternoons for children's voices and piano (1935)
  • A.M.D.G. (Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam), seven settings of Gerard Manley Hopkins for unaccompanied SATB (1939)
  • A Ceremony of Carols for treble voices and harp (1942); an alternative 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)
  • Festival Te Deum for chorus and organ, (1944)
  • Missa Brevis for boys' voices and organ (1959)
  • Sacred and Profane (8 medieval lyrics) for SSATB (1974-5)

[edit] Chamber/Instrumental

[edit] Film music

[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 (+ also version for string quartet)
  • 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, Saint 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.