Britten: Folk Song Arrangements (English Song, Vol. 10)
9/1/2005, 52 Tracks, 2:12:37
Featuring
Philip Langridge
Graham Johnson
Dame Felicity Lott
Christopher Van Kampen
Carlos Bonell
Benjamin Britten
Did you know?
1/6
Composer Biography
Benjamin Britten, a prominent 20th-century English composer, was the first English composer to be elevated to the peerage.
Composition History
Britten's folk-song arrangements were partly driven by a certain nostalgia, and he displayed a special gift for bringing out the qualities of a melody and text.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Britten's work was greatly influenced by his friendship and constant companionship with singer Peter Pears, for whom he wrote many principal operatic roles.
Composition History
The first set of Britten's folk songs from the British Isles was published in 1943, but the arrangements were made in America and performed there by Peter Pears and Britten.
Recording & Production
This album and its companion (Naxos 8.557222) present all of Britten's known folk-songs, including 10 world première recordings of arrangements published in 2001.
Compositional Technique
Britten often used the device of canon in his folk song arrangements, such as in "The Ash Grove" and "The Brisk Young Widow."
You might also enjoy...
Purcell Songs Realised by Britten
Finzi: I Said To Love / Let Us Garlands Bring / Before and After Summer (English Song, Vol. 12)
Britten: Songs and Proverbs of William Blake - Tit for Tat
Parry: 12 Sets of English Lyrics, Vol. 1
Bush: A Little Love Music
The English Tenor
Britten: The Canticles
The Songs of Roger Quilter, Vol. 2
The Songs of Roger Quilter Vol.2
Argento: To Be Sung Upon the Water - Britten: 7 Sonnets of Michelangelo & Canticle II
