Benjamin Britten, born in 1913, would have celebrated his 100th birthday on November 22, 2013, making this album a centenary celebration.
Composition History
Britten composed "A Ceremony of Carols" during a ship journey from Boston to Liverpool in 1942, while returning to England after leaving for the USA in 1939 as a pacifist and homosexual.
Compositional Technique
Britten's folk song arrangements treat the vocal and accompanying parts as equal partners, giving the accompaniment (piano, guitar, or harp) more musical space than in traditional folk songs.
Composer Biography
Britten is considered the first British composer since Henry Purcell to achieve international importance and global impact on other composers, such as Dmitri Shostakovich.
Composition History
Following a major heart operation in 1973 that paralyzed his right hand, Britten began composing vocal works with harp accompaniment instead of piano, as he could no longer accompany his partner, tenor Peter Pears, on piano.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Britten stated that almost every piece he wrote was composed with a specific occasion and for particular, human performers in mind.
Performer Biography
The Regensburger Domspatzen, a boys' choir, has existed for over a thousand years, founded by Bishop Wolfgang in 975 as a cathedral school emphasizing musical training.
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