The five ''Canticles'' constitute a series of five musical works by composer

Benjamin Britten Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten (22 November 1913 – 4 December 1976, aged 63) was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He was a central figure of 20th-century British music, with a range of works including opera, other ...

. The pieces were written at various points in his career, with three of them written as memorials. Instrumentation differs on each piece, and several are based on non-sacred texts. A review in ''Opera Today'' notes, "Britten didn't draw upon the Scriptures for the texts of his canticles, which resemble

cantata A cantata (; ; literally "sung", past participle feminine singular of the Italian verb ''cantare'', "to sing") is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir. The meaning of ...

s more than church

hymn A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hymn'' ...

s in scale and structure, but an intense religious spirit pervades them all."Anderson, David (March 8, 2005)
BRITTEN: Canticles I–V, The Heart of the Matter.
'' Opera Today'' Critic Peter Evans notes the works contain a "mood of spiritual elevation intense enough to demand realization in an ambitious musical structure."Evans, Peter (1996).'' The Music of Benjamin Britten,'' p. 402. Clarendon Press,

''Canticles''

*''Canticle I: My beloved is mine and I am his'', Op. 40. was written in 1947 for the memorial concert for Dick Sheppard, former

vicar A vicar (; Latin: ''vicarius'') is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior (compare "vicarious" in the sense of "at second hand"). Linguistically, ''vicar'' is cognate with the English pref ...

St Martin-in-the-Fields St Martin-in-the-Fields is a Church of England parish church at the north-east corner of Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, London. It is dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours. There has been a church on the site since at least the mediev ...

. The lyrics are from "A Divine Rapture" by

Francis Quarles Francis Quarles (about 8 May 1592 – 8 September 1644) was an English poet most notable for his emblem book entitled ''Emblems''. Early life Francis Quarles was born in Romford, Essex, and baptised there on 8 May 1592. His family had a long hist ...

, based on The Song of Solomon in the Bible.Ford, Boris (1996). ''Benjamin Britten's poets: the poetry he set to music.'' Carcanet, It is scored for high voice and piano. *'' Canticle II: Abraham and Isaac''. Op. 51, was written in 1952 for

Peter Pears Sir Peter Neville Luard Pears ( ; 22 June 19103 April 1986) was an English tenor. His career was closely associated with the composer Benjamin Britten, his personal and professional partner for nearly forty years. Pears' musical career started ...

Kathleen Ferrier Kathleen Mary Ferrier, CBE (22 April 19128 October 1953) was an English contralto singer who achieved an international reputation as a stage, concert and recording artist, with a repertoire extending from folksong and popular ballads to the cl ...

and Britten to perform as a

fundraiser Fundraising or fund-raising is the process of seeking and gathering voluntary financial contributions by engaging individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies. Although fundraising typically refers to efforts to gathe ...

for the

English Opera Group The English Opera Group was a small company of British musicians formed in 1947 by the composer Benjamin Britten (along with John Piper, Eric Crozier and Anne Wood) for the purpose of presenting his and other, primarily British, composers' opera ...

. The text is based on the Abraham and Isaac story as depicted in the

Chester Mystery Plays The Chester Mystery Plays is a cycle of mystery plays originating in the city of Chester, England and dating back to at least the early part of the 15th century. Origins and history Biblical dramas were being performed across continental Eur ...

.Seymour, Claire (2007). ''The operas of Benjamin Britten: expression and evasion.'' Boydell Press, *'' Canticle III: "Still falls the rain"'', Op. 55, was written for voice, horn, and piano in 1954 in memory of Australian pianist

Noel Mewton-Wood Noel Mewton-Wood (20 November 19225 December 1953) was an Australian-born concert pianist who achieved international fame on the basis of many distinguished concerto recordings during his short life. Life and career Born in Melbourne, he studied ...

. Text is based on the 1941

Edith Sitwell Dame Edith Louisa Sitwell (7 September 1887 – 9 December 1964) was a British poet and critic and the eldest of the three literary Sitwells. She reacted badly to her eccentric, unloving parents and lived much of her life with her governess ...

poem of the same title. *'' Canticle IV: "The Journey of the Magi"'', Op. 86, was written in 1971 for

countertenor A countertenor (also contra tenor) is a type of classical male singing voice whose vocal range is equivalent to that of the female contralto or mezzo-soprano voice types, generally extending from around G3 to D5 or E5, although a sopranist (a s ...

tenor A tenor is a type of classical music, classical male singing human voice, voice whose vocal range lies between the countertenor and baritone voice types. It is the highest male chest voice type. The tenor's vocal range extends up to C5. The lo ...

and

baritone A baritone is a type of classical male singing voice whose vocal range lies between the bass and the tenor voice-types. The term originates from the Greek (), meaning "heavy sounding". Composers typically write music for this voice in the r ...

, with text based on the T. S. Eliot poem " The Journey of the Magi."Johnson, Graham; Odam, George (2003). ''Britten, voice, & piano: Lectures on the vocal music of Benjamin Britten.'' Ashgate, *''Canticle V: The Death of Saint Narcissus'', Op. 89, was written in 1974 in memory of

William Plomer William Charles Franklyn Plomer (10 December 1903 – 20 September 1973) was a South African and British novelist, poet and literary editor. He also wrote a series of librettos for Benjamin Britten. He wrote some of his poetry under the pseud ...

. It was written for performance by

and harpist

Osian Ellis Osian or Osiyan may refer to: * Osian art fund, an arts fund started in Mumbai (2010). *Osian, Jodhpur, a city in Rajasthan, India * Osiyan, Unnao, a village in Unnao district, Uttar Pradesh, India * Osian (name), a name common in Wales, derived f ...

.Craggs, Stewart R. (2002). ''Benjamin Britten: a bio-bibliography.'' Greenwood Publishing Group,

References

External links

Britten: Five Canticles
via Hyperion Records {{DEFAULTSORT:Canticles, Five Compositions by Benjamin Britten 1947 compositions 1952 compositions 1954 compositions 1971 compositions 1974 compositions Vocal musical compositions