Britten: Fanfare for St. Edmondsbury / Suite No. 1 / Sinfonietta

Featuring

Bo Nilsson
Jan-Olov Hjelm
Rolf Tilly
Frans Helmerson
Josef Holeček
Märta Schéle

Vestjysk (West Jutland) Chamber Ensemble
Benjamin Britten

Did you know?

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Composition History

The Fanfare for St. Edmondsbury was written in 1959 for the Pageant of Magna Carta, performed at the ruined Abbey at Bury St. Edmunds.

Composer Biography

Benjamin Britten, recognized as one of the most important twentieth-century composers, began composing music at the age of five.

Compositional Technique

In his First Cello Suite, Britten utilizes the cello to suggest instruments like the mandolin, hunting horn, and bagpipe, employing harmonics, pizzicato, and bow effects.

Compositional Technique

The Nocturnal for guitar is based on John Dowland's song "Come, Heavy Sleep," but it is not a traditional set of variations, as Dowland's original tune only appears on the last page.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Britten's music is eclectic, skillfully drawing from widely varying styles of composition, both old and new, such as Purcell, Mahler, Stravinsky, and Alban Berg.

Composition History

Britten's First Suite for Solo Cello, Op. 72, was written for the master cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, one of Britten's close friends and sources of inspiration.