Benjamin Britten

Britten with Frank and Ethel Bridge

1968 Harrison at King's College Chapel, Cambridge, England

1872 Willis/1992 Mander at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London

1887 Willis at Truro Cathedral, England

Britain's Great Britten

…a select survey of some sacred music written by one of the 20th century’s most honored composers, Benjamin Britten, on the hundredth anniversary of his birth.

Program Broadcast dates:

• Week of November 18, 2013

Links and Resources:

• Printable program listings

Music played in the program

Hour 1

BRITTEN: Prelude and Fugue on a Theme of Vittoria (1946)–Herrick Bunney (1940 Willis/St. Gile’s Cathedral, Edinburgh, Scotland) EMI 85416

BRITTEN: Festival Te Deum in E (1944) –Choir of St. John’s College, Cambridge/George Guest, director; Brian Runnett (St. John’s College Chapel, Cambridge, England) London 430 097

BRITTEN: Missa Brevis in D, Op. 63 (1959) –Boys from the Choir of King’s College/David Willcocks, director; Ian Hare (1968 Harrison/King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, England) EMI 47709

BRITTEN: Rejoice in the Lamb, Opus 30 (1943) on a text by Christopher Smart –Rupert Johnston, treble; James Crookes, alto; Simon Williams, tenor; Daniel Sladden, bass; Choir of King’s College/Stephen Cleobury, director; Peter Barley (1968 Harrison/King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, England) Argo 433 215

BRITTEN: Hymn to Saint Peter (1955) –Choir of St. Paul’s Cathedral, London/John Scott, director; Huw Williams (1872 Willis/1992 Mander/St. Paul’s Cathedral, London) Hyperion 67087

Hour 2

BRITTEN: Hymn to Saint Columba (1962) –Choir of King’s College/Stephen Cleobury, director; Christopher Hughes (1968 Harrison/King’s College Chapel, Cambridge) EMI 54418

BRITTEN: Antiphon (1956) –The Sixteen/Harry Christophers, director; Margaret Phillips (1911 Brindley/St. Michael’s Church, Highgate, London) Collins Classics 1343

FRANK BRIDGE: Andantino, fr Organ Pieces, Book 2 (1912) –Philip Marshall (1898 Willis/Lincoln Cathedral, England) EMI 85422

BRIDGE: Allegro marzial, fr Organ Pieces, Book 1 (1905) –Christopher Dearnley (1872 Willis/St. Paul’s Cathedral, London) EMI 85421

BRITTEN: Te Deum in C (1934) –Connor Burrowes, treble; Choir of St. Paul’s Cathedral, London/John Scott, director; Andrew Lucas (1872 Willis/1992 Mander/St. Paul’s Cathedral, London) Hyperion 66916

BRITTEN: Jubilate Deo in C (1961) –Choir of St. John’s College, Cambridge/Christopher Robinson, director; Iain Farrington (1994 Mander/St. John’s College Chapel, Cambridge, England) Naxos 8.554791

BRITTEN: Jubilate Deo in E-flat (1934); Corpus Christi Carol (1961) –Choir of Truro Cathedral/Christopher Gray; Luke Bond (1887 Willis/Truro Cathedral, England) Regent 349

BRITTEN: Hymn to Saint Cecilia, Op. 27 (1942) –Monteverdi Choir/John Elliot Gardiner, conductor. DG 453 433

BRITTEN (arr.): Hymn, God moves in a mysterious way, fr St. Nicholas, Op. 42 (1948) –Tallis Chamber Choir and English Chamber Orchestra/Steuart Bedford, conductor; Joseph Cullen (1915 Hill/All Hallows, Gospel Oak, London) Naxos 8.557203

Baron Edward Benjamin Britten (11/22/1913-12/4/76) proved his skill as composer for opera, orchestra, chamber ensembles, solo instruments and voice, as well as pianist and conductor. Was his birth on Saint Cecilia’s Day only a happy cosmic coincidence?