IDAGIO | Britten: Gloriana Dances – Bliss: Pastoral "Lie Strewn the White Flocks"

Featuring

Martyn Hill
Hilary Davan Wetton
Thelma Owen
Shirley Minty
Judith Pearce
The Holst Singers

The Holst Orchestra
Benjamin Britten
Gustav Holst
Arthur Bliss

Did you know?

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Composition History

Benjamin Britten's Choral Dances are extracted from his coronation opera 'Gloriana', which was set in Norwich and formed part of a masque in honour of Queen Elizabeth I.

Critical Reception

Britten's opera 'Gloriana' initially faced "opprobrium" at its 1953 premiere, with audiences lacking appreciation, though subsequent performances received acclamation.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Gustav Holst studied Sanskrit to read the Rig Veda hymns in their original language, believing normal translation would fail to capture their meaning.

Composer Biography

Gustav Holst, an Englishman of distant Swedish extraction, was a "late developer" in music and began his career as a professional trombonist before becoming a teacher.

Composition History

Arthur Bliss's 'Pastoral 'Lie strewn the white flocks'', written in 1928, was dedicated to Edward Elgar, who praised the work despite poor broadcast reception.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Benjamin Britten believed, like Stravinsky, that a truly creative artist should be able to write 'to order', reflecting his view on the craft of composition.