Benjamin Britten

Britten's Suite Op.6 for Violin and Piano was composed during 1934-35 and the first performance of the complete work was given in March 1936 as part of a BBC broadcast. Three pieces from the original Suite are presented here - March Lullaby and Waltz.

This work was originally written in 1964 for two 12 year old twin brothers whom Britten met whilst working in Budapest. Each twin played the piano and one the flute and the other the violin. A second version has been prepared for those who may not be quite so versatile as the twins for whom it was originally intended and includes a version for four players with extra ad lib. passages for the Flute and Violin so they should not become bored by the long waits. This edition combines both versions with the additional passages in brackets and in small type in the score.

A second collection of beautiful folk songs for Medium Voice and Piano Accompaniment arranged by Benjamin Britten. All 8 songs include both the original French text and the English translation.

Temporal Variations for Oboe And Piano was first performed on 15th December 1936 at the Wigmore hall in London under the different name of Temporal Suite. Although Britten was pleased with the work no further performance took place in his lifetime. The piece now though has earned it's place among Britten's most favoured pieces for Oboe and continues to delight audiences to the present day.

French-Les Illuminations is collection of poems by Arthur Rimbaud. The music for this unique set of writing is composed by Benjamin Britten written for either Soprano or Tenor Voice and a string orchestra.

Benjamin Britten's Hymn to St. Cecilia with words by W.H.Auden for mixed choir a cappella (SSATB) with piano accompaniment for rehearsal only.

Study score of Benjamin Britten's Night Mail arranged for speaker and small ensemble. Verse by W.H. Auden. The first performance of this work took place November 1977 London. Duration 5 minutes.

Benjamin Britten's War Requiem Op.66 includes words from the Missa pro defunctis and the poems of Wilfred Owen.Commissioned to write a work to celebrate the rebuilding of the bomb-damaged Coventry Cathedral in 1962 Britten used the opportunity to write a large-scale composition embodying his deeply held pacifist and humanitarian beliefs. The result the War Requiem is a timeless expression of the brutality and inhumanity of war.