Benjamin Britten, London Records 1968 publicity photo for Wikipedia crop

This list of compositions includes all the published works by English

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Defi ...

Benjamin Britten with opus number.

By genre

Operas

'' Paul Bunyan'', Op. 17: *Operetta in two acts, 114'. *Libretto by W. H. Auden, after the American

folktale A folktale or folk tale is a folklore genre that typically consists of a story passed down from generation to generation orally. Folktale may also refer to: Categories of stories * Folkloric tale from oral tradition * Fable (written form of the a ...

. *Premiered on at Brander Matthews Hall, New York. *Published by Faber Music. '' Peter Grimes'', Op. 33: *Opera in a prologue and three acts, 147'. *Libretto by Montagu Slater, after the poem '' The Borough'' by

George Crabbe George Crabbe ( ; 24 December 1754 – 3 February 1832) was an English poet, surgeon and clergyman. He is best known for his early use of the realistic narrative form and his descriptions of middle and working-class life and people. In the 177 ...

. *Premiered on at Sadler's Wells, London. *Published by

Boosey & Hawkes Boosey & Hawkes is a British music publisher purported to be the largest specialist classical music publisher in the world. Until 2003, it was also a major manufacturer of brass, string and woodwind musical instruments. Formed in 1930 throu ...

. '' The Rape of Lucretia'', Op. 37: *Opera in two acts, 107'. *Libretto by Ronald Duncan, after the play ''Le Viol de Lucrèce'' by

André Obey André Obey (; 8 May 1892 at Douai, France – 11 April 1975 at Montsoreau, near the river Loire) was a prominent French playwright during the inter-war years, and into the 1950s. He began as a novelist and produced an autobiographical novel abou ...

. *Premiered on at Glyndebourne. *Published by Boosey & Hawkes. '' Albert Herring'', Op. 39: *Comic opera in three acts, 137'. *Libretto by

Eric Crozier Eric Crozier OBE (14 November 19147 September 1994) was a British theatrical director, opera librettist and producer, long associated with Benjamin Britten. Early life and career Crozier was born in London and studied at the Royal Academy of Dra ...

, loosely after the short story ''Le Rosier de Mme. Husson'' by Guy de Maupassant. *Premiered on at Glyndebourne. *Published by Boosey & Hawkes. '' The Beggar's Opera'', Op. 43: * Ballad opera, 108'. *Libretto after the ballad opera by

John Gay John Gay (30 June 1685 – 4 December 1732) was an English poet and dramatist and member of the Scriblerus Club. He is best remembered for ''The Beggar's Opera'' (1728), a ballad opera. The characters, including Captain Macheath and Polly Peac ...

. *Premiered on at the Cambridge Arts Theatre. *Published by Boosey & Hawkes. '' Let's Make an Opera (The Little Sweep)'', Op. 45: *An Entertainment for Young People, 130'. *Libretto by Eric Crozier. *Premiered on at Jubilee Hall, Aldeburgh Festival. *Published by Boosey & Hawkes. ''

Billy Budd ''Billy Budd, Sailor (An Inside Narrative)'' is a novella by American writer Herman Melville, left unfinished at his death in 1891. Acclaimed by critics as a masterpiece when a hastily transcribed version was finally published in 1924, it quick ...

'', Op. 50: *Opera in four acts, 162'. *Libretto by E. M. Forster and Eric Crozier, after

the novella ''The Novella'' is a Caroline era stage play, a comedy written by Richard Brome. It was first published in the 1653 Brome collection ''Five New Plays'', issued by the booksellers Humphrey Moseley, Richard Marriot, and Thomas Dring. Date and P ...

by Herman Melville. *Premiered on at the Royal Opera House, London. *Published by Boosey & Hawkes. ''Billy Budd'' (revised): *Opera in two acts, 158'. *Premiered on at the Royal Opera House, London. *Published by Boosey & Hawkes. '' Gloriana'', Op. 53: *Opera in three acts, 148'. *Libretto by William Plomer, after ''Elizabeth and Essex'' by Lytton Strachey. *Premiered on at the Royal Opera House, London. *Published by Boosey & Hawkes. '' The Turn of the Screw'', Op. 54: *Opera in a prologue and two acts, 101'. *Libretto by

Myfanwy Piper Mary ''Myfanwy'' Piper (; Welsh: ; 28 March 1911 – 18 January 1997) was a British art critic and opera librettist. Biography Mary Myfanwy Evans was born on 28 March 1911 into a Welsh family in London. Her father was a chemist in Hampstead, nor ...

, after

by Henry James. *Premiered on at

Teatro La Fenice Teatro La Fenice (, "The Phoenix") is an opera house in Venice, Italy. It is one of "the most famous and renowned landmarks in the history of Italian theatre" and in the history of opera as a whole. Especially in the 19th century, La Fenice beca ...

, Venice. *Published by Boosey & Hawkes. '' Noye's Fludde'', Op. 59: *Music-theatre for community performance, 50'. *Libretto after the Chester Miracle Play as published in ''English Miracle Plays, Moralities and Interludes'' *Premiered on at Orford Church, Aldeburgh Festival. *Published by Boosey & Hawkes. ''

A Midsummer Night's Dream ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' is a comedy written by William Shakespeare 1595 or 1596. The play is set in Athens, and consists of several subplots that revolve around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. One subplot involves a conflict amon ...

'', Op. 64: *Opera in three acts, 144'. *Libretto by the composer and Peter Pears, after the play by Shakespeare. *Premiered on at Jubilee Hall, Aldeburgh Festival. *Published by Boosey & Hawkes. ''

Owen Wingrave ''Owen Wingrave'', Op. 85, is an opera in two acts with music by Benjamin Britten and libretto by Myfanwy Piper, after a short story by Henry James. It was originally written for televised performance. Britten had been aware of the story sin ...

'', Op. 85: *Opera for television in two acts, 106'. *Libretto by

, after the short story by Henry James. *Premiered on in a BBC2 TV broadcast. First staged on at the Royal Opera House, London. *Published by Faber Music. '' Death in Venice'', Op. 88: *Opera in two acts, 145'. *Libretto by

, after

by Thomas Mann. *Premiered on , Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh Festival. *Published by Faber Music.

Church parables

*'' Curlew River'' (Op. 71; 1964), based on a

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

ese Noh play *''

The Burning Fiery Furnace ''The Burning Fiery Furnace'' is an English music drama with music composed by Benjamin Britten, his Opus 77, to a libretto by William Plomer. One of Britten's three ''Parables for Church Performances'', this work received its premiere at the St ...

'' (Op. 77; 1966), after the Book of Daniel, Chapter 3 *''

The Prodigal Son The Parable of the Prodigal Son is a parable of Jesus from the Bible. The Prodigal Son or Prodigal Son may also refer to: Film * ''L'Enfant prodigue'' (1907 film) (The Prodigal Son), by Michel Carré, based on his play * , a short silent film b ...

'' (Op. 81; 1968), after the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 15

Ballets

*'' Plymouth Town'' (ballet for small orchestra; 1931) *'' The Prince of the Pagodas'' (1956) *'' Les Sylphides'' after Chopin (1940)

Orchestral

* "Two Portraits" for string orchestra (1930). No. 2 is subtitled "E.B.B" – his own initials, and thus a self-portrait (also arr. for viola and strings). No. 3 was unrealised. * '' Sinfonietta'' Op. 1, for five winds and five strings (1932), revised for chamber orchestra (1936) *'' Simple Symphony'' for string orchestra (1934) *''

Soirées musicales ''Soirées musicales'', (Musical Evenings), Op. 9, is a suite of five movements by Benjamin Britten, using music composed by Gioachino Rossini. The suite, first performed in 1937, derives its title from Rossini's collection of the same name, dat ...

'', after

Rossini Gioachino Antonio Rossini (29 February 1792 – 13 November 1868) was an Italian composer who gained fame for his 39 operas, although he also wrote many songs, some chamber music and piano pieces, and some sacred music. He set new standards f ...

(1936) *'' Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge'' for string orchestra (1937) *'' Mont Juic'', a suite of Catalan Dances, jointly composed with

Lennox Berkeley Sir Lennox Randal Francis Berkeley (12 May 190326 December 1989) was an English composer. Biography Berkeley was born on 12 May 1903 in Oxford, England, the younger child and only son of Aline Carla (1863–1935), daughter of Sir James Char ...

(1937) *''Canadian Carnival'' (1939) *''

Sinfonia da Requiem ''Sinfonia da Requiem'', Op. 20, for orchestra is a symphony written by Benjamin Britten in 1940 at the age of 26. It was one of several works commissioned from different composers by the Japanese government to mark Emperor Jimmu's 2600th annive ...

'' (1940) *''

Matinées musicales ''Matinées musicales'' is a 1941 composition by Benjamin Britten using music composed by Gioachino Rossini in and around the 1830s. The suite is a successor to Britten's earlier suite based on Rossini, '' Soirées musicales'' (1937). History In ...

'', after Rossini (1941) *''An American Overture'' (1941) *''Prelude and Fugue for 18 Strings'' (1943) *''Four Sea Interludes'' and ''Passacaglia'' from '' Peter Grimes'', for orchestra (1945) *'' The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra'' (1946) *''Occasional Overture'' (1946) *''Men of Goodwill'' – variations on a Christmas carol (1947) *'' Variations on an Elizabethan Theme'', jointly composed with Lennox Berkeley,

Arthur Oldham Arthur William Oldham OBE (6 September 1926 – 4 May 2003) was an English composer and choirmaster. He founded the Edinburgh Festival Chorus in 1965, the Chorus of the Orchestre de Paris in 1975, and the Concertgebouw Orchestra Chorus ...

, Humphrey Searle, Michael Tippett and William Walton (1953) *Symphonic Suite from '' Gloriana'' (1954) *''Suite on English Folk Tunes, A Time There Was...'' for chamber orchestra (1966/1974)

Concertante

*Rondo Concertante for piano and strings (1930) *Double Concerto for Violin, Viola and Orchestra (1932). "Instrumentation...virtually 100% Britten" (Matthews, Erato sleeve note, 1999 – Colin Matthews realised the orchestration). *

Piano Concerto A piano concerto is a type of concerto, a solo composition in the classical music genre which is composed for a piano player, which is typically accompanied by an orchestra or other large ensemble. Piano concertos are typically virtuoso showpiec ...

(1938; rev. 1945, the original third movement – Recitative and Aria – replaced by an Impromptu) * Violin Concerto (1939; rev. 1958) *''

Young Apollo ''Young Apollo'', Op. 16, is a music composition for piano, string quartet and string orchestra composed by Benjamin Britten. Commissioned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the work was completed in 1939, just after Britten's arrival in t ...

'' for piano, string quartet and string orchestra (1939) *'' Diversions for Piano Left Hand and Orchestra'' (1940; rev. 1954) *''Scottish Ballad'' for two pianos and orchestra (1941) *Clarinet Concerto (incomplete: 1st movement only, 1942/3, orch. by Colin Matthews, who later added two further movements from 1940s Britten sketches, incl. Sonata for Orchestra; resulting work, ''Movements for a Clarinet Concerto'', first published 2008) *''In memoriam Dennis Brain'' (c. 1958), unfinished sketch for four horns and orchestra. *

Cello Symphony The Symphony for Cello and Orchestra or Cello Symphony, Op. 68, was written in 1963 by the British composer Benjamin Britten. He dedicated the work to Mstislav Rostropovich, who gave the work its premiere in Moscow with the composer and the Moscow ...

(1963)

Vocal/choral orchestral

*''Quatre Chansons Françaises'' for soprano and orchestra (1928) *''Two Psalms'' for chorus and orchestra (1931) *''

Our Hunting Fathers ''Our Hunting Fathers'', Op. 8, is an orchestral song-cycle by Benjamin Britten, first performed in 1936. Its text, assembled and partly written by W. H. Auden, with a pacifist slant, puzzled audiences at the premiere, and the work has never achi ...

'' for soprano or tenor and orchestra (words by W. H. Auden and others; 1936) *''

The Company of Heaven ''The Company of Heaven'' is a composition for soloists, speakers, choir, timpani, pipe organ, organ, and string orchestra by Benjamin Britten. The title refers to angels, the topic of the work, reflected in texts from the Bible and by poets. Th ...

'' for speakers, soloists, chorus and orchestra (1937, not performed again until 1989) *''Ballad of Heroes'', Op. 14, for tenor or soprano, chorus and orchestra (words by W. H. Auden and

Randall Swingler Randall Carline Swingler MM (28 May 1909 – 19 June 1967) was an English poet, writing extensively in the 1930s in the communist interest. Early life and education His was a prosperous upper middle class Anglican family in Aldershot, with an ...

; 1939) *''

Les Illuminations ''Illuminations'' is an incomplete suite of prose poems by the French poet Arthur Rimbaud, first published partially in ', a Paris literary review, in May–June 1886. The texts were reprinted in book form in October 1886 by Les publications de L ...

'' for soprano or tenor and strings (words by Arthur Rimbaud) (1939; three further songs, not included in the cycle, also exist — another setting also called 'Phrase', and 'Aube' and 'A une raison'; they have been orchestrated by Colin Matthews; there also exists a sketch for a further Rimbaud setting) *'' Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings'' (1943) *''The Ballad of Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard'' for male voice choir and piano (1943) *'' Saint Nicolas'' for tenor soloist, children's chorus, chorus, and orchestra (1948) *''

Spring Symphony The Spring Symphony is a choral symphony by Benjamin Britten, his Opus 44. It is dedicated to Serge Koussevitzky and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. It was premiered in the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, on Thursday 14 July 1949 (not 9 July which is ...

'' for soprano, contralto, and tenor soloists, mixed chorus, boys' choir and orchestra (1949) *'' Nocturne'' for tenor, seven obbligato instruments and strings (1958) *''

Cantata academica ' (Op. 62) is a 1959 choral work on a Latin text by the English composer Benjamin Britten.

'' for soloists, chorus and orchestra (1959) *'' War Requiem'' for soprano, tenor and baritone soloists, chamber ensemble, boys' chorus, mixed chorus, and orchestra (1961) *''

Cantata misericordium ''Cantata misericordium'', op. 69, is a 1963 musical composition by British composer Benjamin Britten. Its single movement is based on the parable of the Good Samaritan and was composed for the centenary of the Red Cross. History and text This c ...

'' for tenor and baritone soloists, small chorus, string quartet, string orchestra, piano, harp, timpani (1963) *''

Phaedra Phaedra may refer to: Mythology * Phaedra (mythology), Cretan princess, daughter of Minos and Pasiphaë, wife of Theseus Arts and entertainment * ''Phaedra'' (Alexandre Cabanel), an 1880 painting Film * ''Phaedra'' (film), a 1962 film by ...

'' for mezzo-soprano, cello, harpsichord, percussion, and string orchestra (words by

Robert Lowell Robert Traill Spence Lowell IV (; March 1, 1917 – September 12, 1977) was an American poet. He was born into a Boston Brahmin family that could trace its origins back to the ''Mayflower''. His family, past and present, were important subjects i ...

; after Jean Racines '' Phèdre''; 1975) *''Praise we great men'' for soloists, chorus and orchestra (words by Edith Sitwell; 1976. Completed by Colin Matthews, 1985) *''Welcome Ode'' for young people's voices and orchestra (1976)

Vocal

* '' Beware! Three Early Songs'' for voice and piano (1) "Beware!" (words by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow; 1922) (2) " O that I had ne'er been Married" (words by Robert Burns; 1922) (3) "Epitaph: The Clerk" (words by Herbert Asquith; 1926; rev. 1968, published 1985 * ''Tit for Tat'' for voice and piano (words by Walter de la Mare; 1928–31; (1) "A Song of Enchantment" (2) "Autumn" (3) "Silver" (4) "Vigil" (5) "Tit for Tat"; rev. and published 1969; premiered by John Shirley-Quirk and the composer at the 1969 Aldeburgh Festival) * ''The Birds'' (Belloc; 1929, rev. 1934) *''On this Island'' for high voice and piano (1937) (words by W. H. Auden) *''Fish in the Unruffled Lakes'' (1937-1947) (words by W. H. Auden – includes songs originally intended for, but ultimate not used in, ''On this Island'') *''Cabaret Songs'' for medium voice and piano (words by W. H. Auden: "Tell Me the Truth About Love", " Funeral Blues", "Johnny", and "Calypso"; 1940) *''

Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo ''Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo'' is a song cycle composed by Benjamin Britten (191376) for tenor voice and piano in 1940, and published as his Op. 22. It was written for himself and his love and life-partner, the tenor Peter Pears (191086). ...

'' for tenor and piano, Op. 22 (1940) *''

The Holy Sonnets of John Donne ''The Holy Sonnets of John Donne'' is a song cycle composed in 1945 by Benjamin Britten for tenor or soprano voice and piano, and published as his Op. 35. It was written for himself and his life-partner, the tenor Peter Pears, and its first pe ...

'' for tenor and piano, Op. 35 (1945) *''Canticle I: My beloved is mine'' for tenor and piano (one of the '' Canticles''; 1947) *''

A Charm of Lullabies ''A Charm of Lullabies'', Op.41 is a song cycle for mezzo-soprano with piano accompaniment by Benjamin Britten. It consists of five songs composed on poems by William Blake, Robert Burns, Robert Greene, Thomas Randolph and John Phillip. It was ...

'' for mezzo-soprano and piano (1947) *''Canticle II: Abraham and Isaac'' for alto (or countertenor), tenor, and piano (one of the ''Canticles''; 1952) *'' Canticle III: Still falls the rain'' for tenor, horn and piano (words by Edith Sitwell; one of the ''Canticles''; 1954) *'' Winter Words'' for tenor and piano, poetry by

Thomas Hardy Thomas Hardy (2 June 1840 – 11 January 1928) was an English novelist and poet. A Victorian realist in the tradition of George Eliot, he was influenced both in his novels and in his poetry by Romanticism, including the poetry of William Word ...

(1954) *''The Heart of the Matter'' for narrator, tenor, horn, and piano (1956) *''

Songs from the Chinese ''Songs from the Chinese'' is a song cycle for soprano or tenor and guitar composed in 1957 by Benjamin Britten (191376), and published as his Op. 58. It consists of settings of six poems translated from the original Chinese by Arthur Waley (1 ...

'' for soprano or tenor and guitar, Op. 58 (translations by Arthur Waley; 1957) *''

Sechs Hölderlin-Fragmente ''Sechs Hölderlin-Fragmente'' (English: ''Six Hölderlin Fragments'') is a song cycle for high voice and piano composed in 1958 by Benjamin Britten (191376), and published as his Op. 61. It consists of settings of six short poems and verse fr ...

'' for tenor and piano, Op. 61 (1958) *'' Songs and Proverbs of William Blake'' for baritone and piano, Op. 74 (1965) *''

The Poet's Echo ''The Poet's Echo'' (Russian title: ''Эхо поэта'') is a song cycle composed by Benjamin Britten (191376) in August 1965 during a holiday visit to the Soviet Union, in Dilizhan, Armenia. It consists of settings for high voice and piano ...

'' for soprano or tenor and piano, Op. 76 (words by Alexander Pushkin; 1965) *''

Who Are These Children? ''Who Are These Children?'' is a song cycle for tenor and piano composed in 1969 by Benjamin Britten (191376), and published as his Op. 84. It consists of settings of twelve poems by the Scottish poet William Soutar (18981943). It was written ...

'' for tenor and piano, Op. 84 (words by

William Soutar William Soutar (28 April 1898 – 15 October 1943) was a Scottish poet and diarist who wrote in English and in Braid Scots. He is known best for his epigrams. Life and works William Soutar was born on 28 April 1898 on South Inch Terrace in P ...

; 1969) *'' Canticle IV: The Journey of the Magi'' for countertenor, tenor, baritone, and piano (one of the ''Canticles''; 1971) *''Canticle V: The Death of Saint Narcissus'' for tenor and harp (one of the ''Canticles''; 1974) *''

A Birthday Hansel ''A Birthday Hansel'', Op. 92, is a song cycle for 'high voice' and harp composed by Benjamin Britten and set to texts by Robert Burns. The last song cycle that Britten wrote, it was composed in honour of the Queen Mother's 75th birthday, at the ...

'' for high voice and harp (1975) *Eight books of ''Folksong Arrangements'' from the British Isles and France, for voice and piano, guitar and harp *''

Britten's Purcell Realizations ''Britten's Purcell Realizations'' is a common name for compositions for voice and piano by Benjamin Britten which are arrangements of works by Henry Purcell. Boosey & Hawkes published 45 of them, titled ''The Purcell Collection – Realizations ...

'', many realizations of songs by

Henry Purcell Henry Purcell (, rare: September 1659 – 21 November 1695) was an English composer. Purcell's style of Baroque music was uniquely English, although it incorporated Italian and French elements. Generally considered among the greatest E ...

for voice(s) and piano

Choral

*''A Hymn to the Virgin'' for chorus and soli (1930; revised 1934) *''Christ's Nativity'' for unaccompanied chorus (1931) *'' A Boy Was Born'' for treble voices and choir (1933; revised 1955) *Jubilate Deo in E-flat for chorus and organ (published posthumously; 1934) *''

Te Deum in C The ''Te Deum in C'' is a sacred choral composition by Benjamin Britten, a setting of the Te Deum on the English text from the Book of Common Prayer. Britten wrote it in 1934 between 11 July and 17 September, scored for treble solo, four-part ch ...

'' for treble solo, chorus, trumpet, and organ (1934) *'' Friday Afternoons'' for children's voices and piano (1935) *''

Advance Democracy ''Advance Democracy'' is a 1938 piece for unaccompanied choir by British composer Benjamin Britten. History In 1938, in reaction to the Munich Agreement and threat posed by the Axis against the liberal order in Europe, the London Co-operative So ...

'' for unaccompanied choir (1938) *''A.M.D.G.'' (Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam), seven settings of Gerard Manley Hopkins for unaccompanied SATB (1939) *''

A Ceremony of Carols ''A Ceremony of Carols,'' Op. 28, is an extended choral composition for Christmas by Benjamin Britten scored for three-part treble chorus, solo voices, and harp. The text, structured in eleven movements, is taken from ''The English Galaxy of Shor ...

'' for treble voices and harp (1942); an alternative arrangement for mixed voices and harp (or piano) is popular as well *''

Hymn to St Cecilia ''Hymn to St Cecilia'', Op. 27 is a choral piece by Benjamin Britten (1913–1976), a setting of a poem by W. H. Auden written between 1940 and 1942. Auden's original title was "Three Songs for St. Cecilia's Day", and he later published the poem ...

'' for unaccompanied choir (poem by W. H. Auden; 1942) *'' Rejoice in the Lamb'' for four soloists, choir, and organ (text by

Christopher Smart Christopher Smart (11 April 1722 – 20 May 1771) was an English poet. He was a major contributor to two popular magazines, ''The Midwife'' and ''The Student'', and a friend to influential cultural icons like Samuel Johnson and Henry Fie ...

; 1943) *''

Festival Te Deum The Festival Te Deum is the popular name for an 1872 composition by Arthur Sullivan, written to celebrate the recovery of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII of the United Kingdom) from typhoid fever. The prince's father, ...

'' in E for chorus and organ (1944) *''A Wedding anthem 'Amo Ergo Sum' '' for soprano, tenor, SATB and organ (1949) *''

Five Flower Songs Benjamin Britten's ''Five Flower Songs'', Op. 47, is a set of five part songs to poems in English by four authors which mention flowers, composed for four voices (SATB) in 1950 as a gift for the 25th wedding anniversary of Leonard and Dorothy ...

'' for SATB (1950) *'' Hymn to St Peter'' for treble soloist, SATB and organ (1955) *''Antiphon'' for SATB and organ, (1955) *'' Missa Brevis'' for boys' voices and organ (1959) *

Jubilate Deo After the liturgical reforms of Vatican II, Pope Paul VI presented a 1974 document as a "minimum repertoire of Gregorian chant", which the faithful should learn to sing. In promulgating the booklet, the Congregation for Divine Worship stated that ...

for chorus and organ (1961) *''

A Hymn of St Columba ''A Hymn of St Columba'' is a composition for choir and organ by Benjamin Britten, written in 1962. He set a hymn in Latin by Saint Columba, the founder of Iona Abbey, to music. It was published by Boosey & Hawkes. History Britten composed '' ...

'' for chorus and organ (1962) *'' The Golden Vanity'' for five boy soloists, treble chorus and piano (1966) *''The Building of the House'' for chorus or organ or brass and orchestra (1967) *'' Children's Crusade'' for nine boy soloists and chorus, percussion, organ and two pianos (text by

Bertolt Brecht Eugen Berthold Friedrich Brecht (10 February 1898 – 14 August 1956), known professionally as Bertolt Brecht, was a German theatre practitioner, playwright, and poet. Coming of age during the Weimar Republic, he had his first successes as a pl ...

, trans. Hans Keller; 1968) *'' Sacred and Profane'' for SSATB (1974–5)

Chamber/instrumental

Solo piano

*Five Waltzes, for piano (1923–25, rev. 1969) *Three Character Pieces, for piano (1930) *Twelve variations on a theme, for piano (1930) *''Holiday Diary'' for piano (1934) *''Sonatina romantica'' for piano (rejected by the composer; 1940) *''Night-Piece (Notturno)'' for piano (written for

Leeds International Pianoforte Competition The Leeds International Piano Competition, informally known as The Leeds and formerly the Leeds International Pianoforte Competition, takes place every three years in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It was founded in 1961 by Marion, Countess ...

; 1963) *''Variations'' for piano (1965)

Two pianos

*''Two Lullabies'' for two pianos (1936) *''Introduction and Rondo alla burlesca'' for two pianos (1940) *''Mazurka elegiaca'' for two pianos (written as part of the collaborative album ''

Homage to Paderewski ''Homage to Paderewski'' is an album of piano pieces by 17 composers, published in 1942 in honour of the Polish pianist, composer and statesman Ignacy Jan Paderewski. Background ''Homage to Paderewski'' was commissioned by the music publisher B ...

''; 1941)

Organ

*''

Prelude and Fugue on a Theme of Vittoria ''Prelude and Fugue on a Theme of Vittoria'' is a work for solo organ composed by Benjamin Britten in 1946. It was commissioned for St Matthew's Church, Northampton and first performed on 21 September 1946, St Matthew's Day, three days after i ...

'' for organ (1946)

String quartet

*String Quartet in F major (1928) *Rhapsody (1929) *Quartettino (1930) * String Quartet in D major (1931, revised 1974) *''Alla Marcia'' (1933) *Three Divertimenti, for string quartet (1933, revised 1936): March, Waltz, Burlesque * String Quartet No. 1 in D major (1941) * String Quartet No. 2 in C major (1945) * String Quartet No. 3 in G major (1975)

Violin and piano

*Suite for Violin and Piano (1935)

Viola and piano

*''Reflections'' for viola and piano (1930) *''Lachrymae'' for viola and piano, after "If my complaints could passions move" by John Dowland; for William Primrose; 1950) **arranged for viola and string orchestra (for Cecil Aronowitz; 1976) *''There is a willow grows aslant a brook'' (1932), an arrangement of the orchestral poem by Frank Bridge. The title is taken from Shakespeare, and the arrangement by Britten is dedicated to Bridge.

Violin, viola and piano

*''Two Pieces'' (1929; first performance 2003)

Solo viola

*Etude (1929) *Elegy (1930)

Cello and piano

* Cello Sonata in C major (1961)

Solo cello

* Cello Suite No. 1 (1964) * Cello Suite No. 2 (1967) * Cello Suite No. 3 (1972) *Tema "Sacher" for cello solo (1976)

Oboe and piano

*''Two Insect Pieces'' for oboe and piano (1935) *''Temporal Variations'' for oboe and piano (1936)

Oboe and strings

*''

Phantasy Quartet ''Phantasy Quartet'', Op. 2, is the common name of a piece of chamber music by Benjamin Britten, a quartet for oboe and string trio composed in 1932. In the composer's catalogue, it is given as ''Phantasy'', subtitled: Quartet in one movement fo ...

'', Op. 2, for oboe, violin, viola, and cello (1932)

Solo oboe

*''

Six Metamorphoses after Ovid ''Six Metamorphoses after Ovid'' (Op. 49) is a piece of program music for solo oboe written by English composer Benjamin Britten in 1951. History The piece was inspired by Ovid's ''Metamorphoses''. It is dedicated to oboist Joy Boughton, daughte ...

'' for solo oboe (1951), with quotations from Ovid's poem '' Metamorphoses''

Flute, violin and piano 4-hands

*''Gemini Variations'' for flute, violin, and piano four hands (1965)

Solo timpani

*''Timpani Piece for Jimmy'', timpani solo (1955) for James Blades

Three trumpets

*''

Fanfare for St Edmundsbury The ''Fanfare for St Edmundsbury'' is a fanfare for three trumpets written by the British composer Benjamin Britten for a "Pageant of Magna Carta" in the grounds of St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Bury St Edmunds in 1959. Technical The fanfare is sc ...

'', short antiphonal and polytonal piece for three trumpets (1959)

Guitar

*''

Nocturnal after John Dowland ''Nocturnal After John Dowland'', Op. 70 is a classical guitar piece composed in 1963 by English composer Benjamin Britten for guitarist Julian Bream. It is considered one of the most influential works written in the twentieth century for the cla ...

'' for guitar (1963)

Harp

*Suite for Solo Harp (1969)

Film & drama music

*'' Night Mail'' (1936), with words by W. H. Auden *''The Agamemnon of Aeschylus'' (1936), play by

Louis MacNeice Frederick Louis MacNeice (12 September 1907 – 3 September 1963) was an Irish poet and playwright, and a member of the Auden Group, which also included W. H. Auden, Stephen Spender and Cecil Day-Lewis. MacNeice's body of work was widely a ...

*''Out of the Picture'' (1937), play by Louis MacNeice *''The Sword In The Stone'' (1939), six-part radio drama *'' The Dark Tower'' (1946), radio play by Louis MacNeice

By opus number

* Op. 1, Sinfonietta, for five winds and five strings 1932, revised for chamber orchestra 1936 * Op. 2, ''

'', oboe quartet, 1932 * Op. 3, ''A Boy was Born'' for mixed chorus with organ ''ad lib'', 1933, revised 1955 * Op. 4, '' Simple Symphony'' for strings, 1934 (+ also version for string quartet) * Op. 5, ''Holiday Diary'' for piano, 1934 * Op. 6, Suite for violin and piano, 1935 * Op. 7, ''Friday Afternoons'' for children's voices and piano, 1935 * Op. 8, ''

'' for soprano or tenor and orchestra (words by W. H. Auden), 1936 * Op. 9, ''

'' for orchestra (after

), 1936 * Op. 10, '' Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge'' for string orchestra, 1937 * Op. 11, ''On this Island'' for soprano or tenor and piano (words by W. H. Auden), 1937 * Op. 12, '' Mont Juic'', suite of Catalan dances, with

, 1937 * Op. 13,

, 1938, revised 1945 * Op. 14, ''Ballad of Heroes'' for tenor or soprano, chorus and orchestra (words by W. H. Auden and

), 1939 * Op. 15, Violin Concerto, 1939, revised 1958 * Op. 16, ''

'' for piano and strings, 1939 (withdrawn, published 1982) * Op. 17, '' Paul Bunyan'', opera (libretto by W. H. Auden), 1941, revised 1976 * Op. 18, ''

'', for soprano or tenor and strings (words by Arthur Rimbaud), 1939 * Op. 19, ''Canadian Carnival'' overture, 1939 * Op. 20, ''

'', 1940 * Op. 21, '' Diversions for Piano Left Hand and Orchestra'', 1940, revised 1954 * Op. 22, ''

'' for tenor and piano, 1940 * Op. 23 ** No. 1, ''Introduction and Rondo alla burlesca'' for two pianos, 1940 ** No. 2, ''Mazurka elegiaca'' for two pianos, 1941 * Op. 24, ''

'' for orchestra (after

), 1941 * Op. 25, String Quartet No. 1, 1941 * Op. 26, ''Scottish Ballad'' for two pianos and orchestra, 1941 * Op. 27, ''Occasional Overture'', 1941; retitled ''An American Overture'' when first performed, 1983 * Op. 27, ''

'' for SSATB, 1942 (replaced ''Occasional Overture'' as Op. 27) * Op. 28, ''

'' for trebles and harp, 1942 * Op. 29, ''Prelude and Fugue'' for 18 strings, 1943 * Op. 30, '' Rejoice in the Lamb'' for soloists, chorus and organ, 1943 * Op. 31, '' Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings'', song cycle, 1943 * Op. 32, ''Festival Te Deum'' for chorus and organ, 1945 * Op. 33, '' Peter Grimes'', opera (libretto by Montagu Slater, after

), 1945 ** Op. 33a, Four Sea Interludes from ''Peter Grimes'' ** Op. 33b, Passacaglia from ''Peter Grimes'' * Op. 34, ''Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Henry Purcell'' ('' The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra''), 1946 * Op. 35, ''

'' for soprano or tenor and piano, 1945 * Op. 36, String Quartet No. 2, 1945 * Op. 37, '' The Rape of Lucretia'', opera (libretto by Ronald Duncan, after André Obey), 1946, revised 1947 * Op. 38, ''Occasional Overture'', 1946 (withdrawn, published 1984) * Op. 39, '' Albert Herring'', opera (libretto by Eric Crozier, after Guy de Maupassant), 1947 * Op. 40, ''My beloved is mine'' (Canticle I) for soprano or tenor and piano (words by Francis Quarles), 1947 * Op. 41, ''

'' for mezzo soprano and piano, 1947 * Op. 42, '' Saint Nicolas'' for soloists, chorus, strings, piano (4 hands), percussion and organ, 1948 * Op. 43, '' The Beggar's Opera'' after

, 1948 * Op. 44, ''

'' for soloists, mixed choir, children's choir and orchestra, 1949 * Op. 45, ''

The Little Sweep ''The Little Sweep'', Op. 45, is an opera for children in three scenes by the English composer Benjamin Britten, with a libretto by Eric Crozier. ''Let's Make an Opera!'' ''The Little Sweep'' is the second part of a stage production entitled ' ...

'', opera (libretto by Eric Crozier), 1949 * Op. 46, A Wedding anthem ''Amo Ergo Sum'' for soprano, tenor, SATB and organ (words by Ronald Duncan), 1949 * Op. 47, ''Five Flower Songs'' for SATB, 1950 * Op. 48, ''Lachrymae'' for viola and piano, 1950 ** Op. 48a, ''Lachrymae'' for viola and strings, 1976 * Op. 49, ''

'' for oboe, 1951 * Op. 50, ''

'', opera (libretto by E. M. Forster and Eric Crozier, after Herman Melville), 1951, revised 1960 * Op. 51, ''Abraham and Isaac'' (Canticle II) for alto, tenor and piano (Chester miracle play), 1952 * Op. 52, '' Winter Words'' for soprano or tenor and piano (words by

), 1953 * Op. 53, '' Gloriana'', opera (libretto by William Plomer, after Lytton Strachey), 1953 ** Op. 53a, Symphonic Suite "Gloriana" for tenor or oboe and orchestra, 1954 * Op. 54, '' The Turn of the Screw'', opera (libretto by Myfanwy Piper, after Henry James), 1954 * Op. 55, '' Still Falls the Rain'' (Canticle III) for tenor, horn and piano (words Edith Sitwell), 1954 * Op. 56a, '' Hymn to St Peter'' for treble, SATB and organ, 1955 * Op. 56b, ''Antiphon'' for SATB and organ, 1955 * Op. 57, '' The Prince of the Pagodas'', ballet, 1956 ** Op. 57a, ''Pas de six'' from ''The Prince of the Pagodas'' * Op. 58, ''

'' for soprano or tenor and guitar, 1957 * Op. 59, '' Noye's Fludde'', opera (Chester mystery play), 1957 * Op. 60, ''Nocturne'' for tenor, 7 obbligato instruments and string orchestra, song cycle, 1958 * Op. 61, ''

'' for voice and piano, 1958 * Op. 62, ''

Cantata academica ' (Op. 62) is a 1959 choral work on a Latin text by the English composer Benjamin Britten.

'', 1959 * Op. 63, ''Missa brevis'' for boys' voices and organ, 1959 * Op. 64, ''

'', opera (libretto by Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears, after William Shakespeare), 1960 * Op. 65, Sonata for cello and piano, 1961 * Op. 66, '' War Requiem'', 1961 * Op. 67, ''Psalm CL'' for children's chorus and instruments, 1962 * Op. 68, ''

'', 1963 * Op. 69, ''

'', 1963 * Op. 70, ''Nocturnal after John Dowland'' for guitar, 1963 * Op. 71, '' Curlew River'', church parable (libretto by William Plomer, after Noh), 1964 * Op. 72, Cello Suite No. 1, 1964 * Op. 73, ''Gemini Variations'' for flute, violin and piano four hands, 1965 * Op. 74, '' Songs and Proverbs of William Blake'' for baritone and piano, 1965 * Op. 75, ''Voices for Today'' for boys' voices, chorus and organ ''ad lib'', 1965 * Op. 76, ''

'' for soprano or tenor and piano (words by Alexander Pushkin), 1965 * Op. 77, ''

'', church parable (libretto by William Plomer, after the Book of Daniel), 1966 * Op. 78, '' The Golden Vanity'' for boys' voices and piano (words by Colin Graham), 1966 * Op. 79, ''The Building of the House'' overture, for chorus or organ or brass and orchestra, 1967 * Op. 80, Cello Suite No. 2, 1967 * Op. 81, ''

'', church parable (libretto by William Plomer, after the Gospel of Luke), 1968 * Op. 82, ''Children's Crusade'' (words

/Hans Keller), 1968 * Op. 83, Suite for Harp, 1969 * Op. 84, ''

'' for tenor and piano (words by

), 1969 * Op. 85, ''

'', opera (libretto by Myfanwy Piper, based on Henry James), 1970 * Op. 86, ''The Journey of the Magi'' (Canticle IV) for countertenor, tenor, baritone and piano (words by

T. S. Eliot Thomas Stearns Eliot (26 September 18884 January 1965) was a poet, essayist, publisher, playwright, literary critic and editor.Bush, Ronald. "T. S. Eliot's Life and Career", in John A Garraty and Mark C. Carnes (eds), ''American National Biogr ...

), 1971 * Op. 87, Cello Suite No. 3, 1971 * Op. 88, '' Death in Venice'', opera (libretto by Myfanwy Piper, based on Thomas Mann), 1973 * Op. 89, ''The Death of Saint Narcissus'' (Canticle V) for tenor and harp (words by T. S. Eliot), 1974 * Op. 90, ''A Suite on English Folk Tunes "A Time There Was"'' for chamber orchestra, 1974 * Op. 91, '' Sacred and Profane'' for five voices (SSATB), 1975 * Op. 92, ''

'' for high voice and harp (words by Robert Burns), 1975 * Op. 93, ''

'', cantata (words by Robert Lowell, after Jean Racine), 1975 * Op. 94, String Quartet No. 3, 1975 * Op. 95, ''Welcome Ode'' for young people's voices and orchestra, 1976

Notes

References

Sources

* *
Britten Thematic Catalogue
{{Benjamin Britten , state=expanded List Britten, Benjamin