Research Catalog

Title

Britten, voice, & piano : lectures on the vocal music of Benjamin Britten / by Graham Johnson.

Author

Johnson, Graham, 1950-

Publication

Aldershot ; Burkington, VT : Ashgate ; London : Guildhall School of Music & Drama, 2003.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Holdings

Details

Additional Authors

• Odam, George
• Britten, Benjamin, 1913-1976.

Description

ix, 270 p. : b ill.; 25 cm. +

Summary

This collection of eight "lectures" by internationally acclaimed pianist, Graham Johnson, is based on a series of concert talks given at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama as part of the Benjamin Britten festival in 2001. The focus of the book is on Britten's songs, starting with his earliest compositions in the genre. Graham Johnson suggests that the nature of Britten's creativity is especially apparent in his setting of poetry, that he becomes the poet's alter-ego. A chapter on Britten's settings of Auden and Eliot explores the particular influences these writers brought to bear at opposite poles of the composer's life. The inspiration of fellow musicians is also discussed, with a chapter devoted to Britten's time in Russia and his friendship with the Rostropovitch family. Closer to home, the book places in context Britten's folksong settings, illustrating how he subverted the English folksong tradition by refusing to accept previous definitions of what constituted national loyalty. Drawing on letters and diaries, and featuring a number of previously unpublished photographs, this book illuminates aspects of Britten's songs from the personal perspective of the pianist who worked closely with Peter Pears after Benjamin Britten was unable to perform through illness. Johnson worked with Pears on learning the role of Aschenbach in "Death in Venice" and was official pianist for the first master class given by Peter Pears at Snape in 1972 [Publisher description]

Series Statement

Research studies ; 2

Uniform Title

Research studies (Guildhall School of Music and Drama (London, England)) 2.

Alternative Title

Britten, voice, and piano

Subject

• Britten, Benjamin, 1913-1976 > Criticism and interpretation
• 1900-1999
• Songs > Analysis, appreciation

Genre/Form

Biographies

Note

• Based on a series of 8 concert lectures given in November, 2001 at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama.
• Includes index.
• Accompanying sound recordings contain excerpts from Britten's vocal music.

Bibliography (note)

• Includes index.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

• Young Britten 1913-35 -- Britten abroad: Italy, Poland, France and Germany -- British folksong settings -- Miscellany of folksongs -- Britten the Elizabethan, Britten and the Baroque -- Beginnings (Auden) and ends (Eliot) -- Britten and Russia -- Britten and the English Landscape.
• CD contents : CD 1. Poison tree : first version -- From Tit for tat : Song of enchantment -- From Friday afternoons : New Year carol ; I mun be married on Sunday -- Lift-boy -- From Seven sonnets of Michelangelo : Si come nella panna ; Veggio co'bei ; Tu sa' ch'io so ; Rendete a gli occhi miei ; Spirto ben nato -- Introduction and rondo alla burlesca -- From Folksong arrangements, vol. 1 : Bonny Earl o'Moray ; O can ye sew cushions? Oliver Cromwell -- From Folksong arrangements, vol. 3 : Miller of Dee -- From Folksong arrangements, vol. 5 : Ca' the yowes ; Lincolnshire poacher -- From Moore's Irish melodies : How sweet the answer ; Last rose of summer -- From Folksongs with guitar : Sailor-boy ; Soldier and the sailor ; Shooting of his dear -- From Folksongs, posthumously published : Tom Bowling ; Soldier, won't you marry me?
• CD contents : CD 2. From Lachrymae : reflections on a song of John Dowland : Lento ; Allegretto molto comodo ; Animato ; Tranquillo -- From Cantle I, My beloved is mine : He is my altar -- From The holy sonnets of John Donne : Oh my blacke soule ; Batter my heart ; O might those sighes and teares -- From On this island : As it is, plenty -- To lie flat on the back -- When you're feeling like expressing your affection -- Canticle IV, The journeyof the Magi -- Underneath the abject willow -- From Cabaret songs : Calypso -- Third suite for cello -- From Canticle III, Still falls the rain : At the feet of the hunted hard -- From Winter words : Little old table -- From Canticle II, Abraham and Isaac : Abraham, I must thee kill!

ISBN

0754638723

OCLC

• 51991811
• SCSB-12780471

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library