Britten, Benjamin 1913 - 1976
Author: Saitoh, Noriko
Last updated：September 1, 2008
Author: Saitoh, Noriko
Benjamin Britten was a British composer. He began studying piano and voice and composing from an early age. Britten's mother was a talented amateur soprano. From his early teens, he studied composition with Frank Bridge and entered the Royal College of Music in London on a scholarship. There, he studied composition with John Ireland and piano with Arthur Benjamin. His father died before he graduated, leading him to compose film scores to earn a living. His encounter with the poet W. H. Auden through this work significantly influenced Britten's later creative activities, resulting in poetic dramas and songs with orchestra based on Auden's poetry. Although he spent some time in the United States, he returned to England and was publicly permitted to devote himself to composition rather than military service during World War II. From his anti-war stance, religious works began to emerge. After the war, he successively composed works such as The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra (Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Purcell) (1946) and War Requiem (1961). Among these, War Requiem had its Japanese premiere in 1965. Britten, whose style underwent diverse changes while consistently demonstrating a strong interest in British music, became the first musician to be appointed a life peer (member of the House of Lords).
Britten also performed as a pianist, holding joint recitals as an accompanist for the tenor Peter Pears, with whom he had previously traveled to the United States, and also visited Japan. During that visit, he also conducted the NHK Symphony Orchestra.
Works(10)
Concerto (2)
Chamber music (1)
Diversions on a theme for piano(left hand) and orchestra Op.21
Composed in: 1940 Playing time: 23 min 30 sec
Piano Solo (4)
pieces (2)
Piano Ensemble (1)
Various works (3)