Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)

Composer of the Week

Donald Macleod explores the musical life of Benjamin Britten

Music Featured:

Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge (Nos 7 & 8) Phantasy Quartet Nocturne (On This Island) Ballad of Heroes (2nd mvt) Suite for Violin and Piano (Lullaby; Waltz) Hymn to St Cecilia Calypso Young Apollo for Piano and Strings Violin Concerto in D minor (1st & 2nd mvt) An American Overture Ceremony of Carols (Nos 7 & 8) Peter Grimes, Prologue Peter Grimes, “Old Joe has gone fishing” Four Sea Interludes, Op 33a Dark Tower (extract) Oliver Cromwell (Folk Song Arrangements) The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra Peter Grimes, “Embroidery in Childhood” Albert Herring, “Albert the Good” Saint Nicolas (excerpt) Noye’s Fludde, “It is good for to be still” Lachrymae (reflections on a song by John Dowland) Canticle ii: Abraham and Isaac Nocturnal after John Dowland (Passacaglia) War Requiem, Requiem aeternam War Requiem, Sanctus Symphony for cello and orchestra (2nd mvt) Third Suite for Cello(Passacaglia) Death in Venice (excerpt) String Quartet No 3, Op 94 (3rd & 4th mvts)

Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Martin Williams

For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000xd01

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z