Biography and Chief Works of   

Benjamin Britten

1913.

Bom in Lowestoft, East Anglia.  A prodigy.  Studied piano and composition while at a public school.  

1925.

'A Simple Symphony' for strings (revised in 1934-) Went on to Royal College of Music, London, where studied composition with John Ireland.

1933.

Wrote a number of short choral works.  Gradually began to write music for films, incidental music for plays, etc. 

1937.

'Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge' for string orchestra, played at Salzburg Festival.  Began to write the piano and the violin concertos.

1940.

'Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo' for voice and piano.  Went to U.S.A.  

1941.

String quartet, followed by another in 1945.

1942.

'Hymn to St Cecilia', 'A Ceremony of Carols', and other choral works.  Also song cycles for solo voice with orchestra or piano, including 'Serenade' and 'The Holy Sonnets of John Donne'.  Also collections of folk songs.  

1945.

Having achieved a mastery of the setting of words, and having had dramatic experience through writing music for films and plays, was now ready to produce opera.  'Peter Grimes ' was an immediate success, both in England and abroad.  'Four Sea Interludes' and 'Passacaglia' from it also performed separately as orchestral music.

Settled in Suffolk, where he started the small annual Aldeburgh Festival.

1946.

'The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra' (also called 'Variations on a Theme of Purcell').  

Chamber opera 'The Rape of Lucretia'.

1947.

'Albert Herring', a comic opera.

1949.

'Let's Make an Opera' a children's play containing a small opera 'The Little Sweep'.  'Spring' symphony, for chorus and orchestra.

1951.

Opera 'Billy Budd', with all-male cast.

1953.

Opera 'Gloriana' written for coronation of Elizabeth II.  

1955.

Opera 'The Turn of the Screw'.

1957.

Ballet 'Prince of Pagodas'.

1958.

'Noye's Fludde', a children's opera.

A prolific, clever and imaginative composer, whose greatest strength seems to lie in his setting of words, either in songs, choral works or operas.  

Has an affinity with Purcell.  Is also an excellent pianist and accompanist.  

Operas:

'Peter Grimes'; 'The Rape of Lucretia'; 'Albert Herring'; 'The Little Sweep' (contained in 'Let's Make an Opera’); 'Billy Budd'; 'Gloriana'; 'The Turn of the Screw'; 'Noye's Fludde'.

A large number of choral works, including 'Hymn to St Cecilia', 'A Ceremony of Carols'; 'A Spring Symphony'.  

Songs, mostly in cycles, including 'Seven Songs of Michelangelo'; 'The Holy Sonnets of John Donne'; 'Les Illuminations'; 'Serenade for tenor, hom and strings'; and arrangements of folk songs.

Orchestral works:

'A Simple Symphony'; 'Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge'; 'Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Purcell'; and others.  Piano concerto; violin concerto.

Chamber Music: 2 string quartets, and a few other works.  

Music for films and incidental music.