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A Ceremony Of Carols - Britten Choral Works II

3/15/2006, 26 Tracks, 1:09:33

Featuring

  • Harry Christophers
  • Libby Crabtree
  • Sally Dunkley
  • Sioned Williams
  • Carys Lane
  • Deborah Miles-Johnson
  • Neil MacKenzie
  • Simon Birchall
  • Margaret Phillips
  • Rebecca Outram
  • Jamie Hopkins
  • John Scott
  • The Sixteen
  • Choristers of St Paul's Cathedral
  • Benjamin Britten

Did you know?

1/7

Compositional Technique

'A Boy was Born' is a set of variations on the motif D-E-G-E, which begins the hymn-like opening theme.

Source: Booklet

Interpretation

The conductor, Harry Christophers, aimed to be faithful to Britten's requests, noting that years of misguided interpretation often ignore composers' intentions.

Source: Booklet

Composer Biography

Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears returned to England in 1942 on a Swedish merchant ship, during which Britten composed 'A Ceremony of Carols'.

Source: Booklet

Composition History

Britten composed 'A Ceremony of Carols' while on board the M.S. Axel Johnson, using a small book of poems found in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Source: Booklet

Composition History

Britten's 'A Boy was Born' was his first choral publication and his first choral music to be broadcast, on the day of Elgar's death in 1934.

Source: Booklet

Performer Biography

Harry Christophers, the conductor and founder of The Sixteen, sang at Benjamin Britten's memorial service in December 1977 as a member of the Westminster Abbey choir.

Source: Booklet

Performer Biography

The Sixteen, a vocal ensemble, is recognized as one of the world's greatest, known for early English polyphony, Renaissance masterpieces, and 20th-century music.

Source: Booklet

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