London Soecobedford - Brittenvariations On A Theme Of Frank [CD]

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Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra Variations on a Theme of Frank BridgeBenjamin Britten occupies an unrivalled position inEnglish music of the twentieth century and a place of thegreatest importance in the wider musical world. WhileElgar was in some ways part of late nineteenth-centuryGerman romantic tradition, Britten avoided the trapoffered by musical nationalism and the insular debt tofolk-music of his older compatriots, while profiting fromthat tradition in a much wider European context. He maybe seen as following in part a path mapped out byMahler. He possessed a special gift for word-setting andvocal writing, a facility that Purcell had shown and thatwas the foundation of a remarkable series of operas thatbrought English opera for the first time into internationalrepertoire. Tonal in his musical language, he knew wellhow to use inventively, imaginatively, and, above all,musically, techniques that in other hands often seemedarid. His work owed much to the friendship and constantcompanionship of the singer Peter Pears, for whomBritten wrote many of his principal operatic r??les andwhose qualities of voice and intelligence clearly had amarked effect on his vocal writing.Born in the East Anglian seaside town of Lowestoftin 1913, Britten showed early gifts as a composer,studying with Frank Bridge before a less fruitful time atthe Royal College of Music in London. His associationwith the poet W.H.Auden, with whom he undertookvarious collaborations, was in part behind his departurewith Pears in 1939 for the United States, whereopportunities seemed plentiful, away from the pettyjealousies and inhibitions of his own country, wheremusical facility and genius often seemed the objects ofsuspicion. The outbreak of war brought its owndifficulties. Britten and Pears were firmly pacifist intheir views, but were equally horrified at the excesses ofNational Socialism and sufferings that the war brought.Britten's nostalgia for his native country and region ledto their return to England in 1942, when they rejectedthe easy option of nominal military service as musiciansin uniform in favour of overt pacifism, but were able togive concerts and recitals, often in difficultcircumstances, offering encouragement to those whoheard them. The re-opening of Sadler's Wells and thestaging of Britten's opera Peter Grimes started a new erain English opera. The English Opera Group was foundedand a series of chamber operas followed, with largerscale works that established Britten as a composer of thehighest stature, a position recognised shortly before hisearly death by his elevation to the peerage, the firstEnglish composer ever to be so honoured.The works included here come from the periodbetween 1937 and 1946. The earlier date is that ofBritten's tribute to his teacher, his Variations on aTheme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10, which was written forand performed by the Boyd Neel Orchestra at theSalzburg Festival in the same year. The theme itself

Occasional Overture - London Symphony Orchestra

Introduction And Theme - English Chamber Orchestra

Adagio - English Chamber Orchestra

March - English Chamber Orchestra

Romance - English Chamber Orchestra

Aria Italiana - English Chamber Orchestra

Bourree Classique - English Chamber Orchestra

Wiener Waltzer - English Chamber Orchestra

Moto Perpetuo - English Chamber Orchestra

Funeral March - English Chamber Orchestra

Chant - English Chamber Orchestra

Fugue And Finale - English Chamber Orchestra

Prelude: Grave - English Chamber Orchestra

Fugue: Allegro Energico - English Chamber Orchestra

Coda: Grave Come Prima - English Chamber Orchestra

Theme - London Symphony Orchestra

Variation A - The Flutes - London Symphony Orchestra

Variation B - The Oboes - London Symphony Orchestra

Variation C - The Clarinets - London Symphony Orchestra

Variation D - The Bassoons - London Symphony Orchestra

Variation E - The Violins - London Symphony Orchestra

Variation F - The Violas - London Symphony Orchestra

Variation G - The Cellos - London Symphony Orchestra

Variation H - The Double Basses - London Symphony Orchestra

Variation I - The Harp - London Symphony Orchestra

Variation J - The Horns - London Symphony Orchestra

Variation K - The Trumpets - London Symphony Orchestra

Variation L - The Trombones And Bass Tuba - London Symphony Orchestra

Variation M - Percussion - London Symphony Orchestra

Fugue - London Symphony Orchestra