play pause radio-play skip-back skip-forward playing search copy check embed close plus caret-down caret-left caret-right caret-up chevron-down chevron-left chevron-right chevron-up arrow-left arrow-right open-in-new-tab filter menu more-horizontal more-vertical share share-android select star star-block volume-block volume-mute-block volume-mute volume lock settings recording composition devices laptop speaker
Log inCreate account

Britten: Frank Bridge Variations - Lachrymae - Elegy for Strings - Simple Symphony - Two Portraits

11/19/2013, 19 Tracks, 1:21:05

Featuring

  • Terje Tønnesen
  • Catherine Bullock
  • Camerata Nordica
  • Benjamin Britten

Did you know?

1/7

Composer's Artistic Vision

Britten had a lifelong unease with the concept of 'the symphony', which first surfaced with his Simple Symphony, a work he designed as both a string orchestra piece and a string quartet.

Source: Booklet

Composition History

Britten's Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge was composed in just over a month in 1937 as an act of homage to his former teacher, Frank Bridge.

Source: Booklet

Compositional Technique

Lachrymae, subtitled 'Reflections on a song of Dowland', uses John Dowland's music as a basis for variations, but keeps the original material in the background until the very end.

Source: Booklet

Composition History

Britten's Simple Symphony is built from his own childhood compositions from 1923-26 and was originally intended for skilled amateur musicians.

Source: Booklet

Recording & Production

The Elegy for Strings on this album received its premiere performance at the BBC Proms on August 31st, 2013, by Camerata Nordica, and is appearing for the first time on disc.

Source: Booklet

Compositional Technique

In the Frank Bridge Variations, Britten linked each variation to one of Frank Bridge's admirable qualities, such as integrity, energy, or wit, though these were not included in the published score.

Source: Booklet

Composition History

Britten composed the Elegy for Strings, recorded here for the first time, between April 16th and 23rd, 1928, when he was 14 years old.

Source: Booklet

You might also enjoy...

Britten: Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge / Lachrymae / Two Portraits & Simple Symphony
Orlando Gibbons: Tudor Church Music
Simpson, C.: Divisions On A Ground / Locke, M.: Duos Nos. 3 and 4 / Ford, T.: Musicke of Sundrie Kindes / Jenkins, J.: Fantasia for Violin and Viola
Tuenage: On All Fours, Lament for a Hanging Man, Sarabande & Release
Blow: An ode on the death of Mr. Henry Purcell etc.
Britten: Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Lachrymae & Simple Symphony
Britten: Simple Symphony Op.1 / Lachrymae Op.48
John Pickard: The Gardener of Aleppo & Other Chamber Works
A Tribute To Elgar, Delius & Holst
Colin Matthews: Chamber Works
Ferrabosco & Byrd: Consort Music
Die Flimmerkiste: Works for Ensemble
Gibbons, O.: Organ Music (Complete) / Anthems (Wooley, St. John's College Choir, Cambridge)
©℗ 2013 BIS