- published: 31 Oct 2013
- views: 20561
Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten,OM CH (22 November 1913 – 4 December 1976) was an English composer, conductor, and pianist; and one of the central figures of 20th century British classical music. He showed talent from an early age, and first came to public attention with the a cappella choral work A Boy Was Born in 1934. With the premiere of his opera Peter Grimes in 1945, he leapt to international fame. For the next fifteen years he devoted much of his compositional attention to writing operas, establishing him as one of the leading 20th century figures in this genre.
Britten's interests as a composer were wide-ranging; he produced important music in such varied genres as orchestral, choral, solo vocal (much of it written for his life partner, tenor Peter Pears), chamber and instrumental, as well as film music. He also took a great interest in writing music for children and amateur performers, and was an outstanding pianist and conductor.
Britten was born in Lowestoft, Suffolk, on 22 November 1913, the youngest of four children. His father, Robert, was a dentist, and his mother Edith, a talented amateur musician who gave Britten his first lessons in piano and notation. He showed musical gifts very early in life, making his first attempts at composition aged five, and thereafter composing prolifically as a child. He started piano lessons with a teacher from his pre-prep school when aged 7, and viola lessons with Audrey Alston when 10 years old.
Actors: John Hurt (actor), Tony Britten (director), Tony Britten (writer), Tony Britten (producer), Andrew Joslin (costume designer), Anwen Rees-Myers (producer), Jake Mann (actor), Katja Mordaunt (producer), Bradley Hall (actor), Alex Lawther (actor), Mykola Allen (actor), Ray Gotts (editor), Christopher Theobald (actor), Helen Cogman (miscellaneous crew), George Anderson (actor),
Plot: This drama documentary for cinema explores the pacifism that was such a powerful influence on composer Benjamin Britten's life and work. The story begins in 1929 at Gresham's School in Norfolk, England. Our young actors take us into a world where social and political issues are actively addressed and young Ben Britten's hatred of all things militaristic is formed. As we explore the music that illustrated that hatred throughout his life, illustrated by new performances and unique observations from experts and friends, we frequently return to dramatic interludes at Gresham's, which cement the narrative - spoken by legendary actor John Hurt. The transcendent music of the War Requiem accompanies the climax of the film, before we return to Gresham's School 2012.
Keywords: reenactmentThis little babe
so few days old
is come to rifle
Santan's fold
All hell doth at
his presence quake
though he himself for
cold do shake
For in this weak
un armed wise
the gates of hell he
will surprise
With tears he fights
and wins the field
his naked breast stands
for a shield
His battering shot
are babish cries
his arrows looks of
weeping eyes
His martial en sings
Cold a Need
and feeble Flesh his
war rior's steed.
His camp is pitched
in a stall
his bulwark but a
boken wall
The crib his trench
haystalks his stakes
of shepherds he his
muster makes
And thus as sure
his foe to wound
the angels trumps
a la rum sound
My soul with Christ
join thou in fight
stick to the tents
that he hath pight
With in his crib
is surest ward
This Little Babe
will be thy guard
If thou wilt foil
foes with joy then
flit not from this