Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
Nationality:
English
Born: November 22, 1913, Lowestoft Died: December 4, 1976, Aldeburgh (age 63)
Suite No. 2, Op. 80
(for solo cello)
| 4:18 | I. | Declamato. Largo | |
| 4:28 | II. | Fuga. Andante | |
| 1:57 | III. | Scherzo. Allegro molto | |
| 5:32 | IV. | Andante lento | |
| 7:18 | V. | Ciaccona. Allegro |
Duration: 22 minutes (approximately)
Composed:
1967, Summer (age 53-54)
Premiere:
June 17, 1968. Aldeburgh Festival, Snape Maltings, Mstislav Rostropovich
Published:
1969 (age 55-56)
Dedication: Mstislav Rostropovich
4 recordings,
16 videos
autoopen
autoplay
4:31
Truls Mørk
I.
Declamato. Largo
4:44
Truls Mørk
II.
Fuga. Andante
2:02
Truls Mørk
III.
Scherzo. Allegro molto
5:37
Truls Mørk
IV.
Andante lento
7:15
Truls Mørk
V.
Ciaccona. Allegro
4:24
Pieter Wispelwey
I.
Declamato. Largo
3:56
Pieter Wispelwey
II.
Fuga. Andante
2:05
Pieter Wispelwey
III.
Scherzo. Allegro molto
5:48
Pieter Wispelwey
IV.
Andante lento
7:30
Pieter Wispelwey
V.
Ciaccona. Allegro
3:45
Paul Watkins
I.
Declamato. Largo
4:35
Paul Watkins
II.
Fuga. Andante
1:47
Paul Watkins
III.
Scherzo. Allegro molto
5:18
Paul Watkins
IV.
Andante lento
7:10
Paul Watkins
V.
Ciaccona. Allegro
20:09
Rostropovich
Related Composers
Arthur Benjamin (1893-1960)
Teacher
Nationality:
Australian
Born: September 18, 1893, Sydney Died: April 10, 1960, London (age 66)
Frank Bridge (1879-1941)
Teacher
Nationality:
English
Born: February 26, 1879, Brighton Died: January 10, 1941, Eastbourne (age 61)
John Ireland (1879-1962)
Teacher
Nationality:
English
Born: August 13, 1879, Bowdon, Cheshire Died: June 12, 1962, Rock Mill, Washington, Sussex (age 82)
Michael Tippett (1905-1998)
Friend/Colleague
Nationality:
English
Born: January 2, 1905, London Died: January 8, 1998, London (age 93)
glossary
- allegro [I]—fast, lively tempo. From the Italian word for cheerful or gay.
- andante [I]—moderately slow tempo (e.g. walking). Faster than adagio but slower than allegretto
- chaconne, ciaconna [I], ciacona, chiacona, ciaccona, chacony—a Baroque term for a musical form comprising a series of variations over an unchanging short theme or ground base. chaconne and passacaglia are closely related if not indistinguishablewiki
- chamber music, Kammermusik [G], musique de chambre [F], musica da camera [I], musica cameralis [L]—"Classical Music" for a small ensemble, generally 8 or fewer players with a canonical emphasis on 3-6 players. explore
- declamato [I]—in a declamatory style, with a correct and distinct enunciation
- fugue, fuga, fuge [G], fuguette, fugen [G,pl]—a contrapuntal procedure (form) involving a musical subject (theme) that is successively imitated by multiple overlapping voices. There is a vast canon of rules (concepts) for creating elaborate and diverse fugues with an infinite variety of character based on fairly specific parameters. Fugues (or partial fugato) are found throughout classical music from the late Renaissance to the present.
- largo—slow, solemn, sustained.slower than lento. faster than grave
- lento, lent [F], lentement [F], avec lenteur [F]—slow (tempo)
- molto [It]—very much
- opus [L], opera[pl], Op., Opp, WoO, Op. posth—work, as in a work of art. For unique identification, publishers/composers often assign an "opus number", abbreviated as "Op." (e.g. Op. 1). A range of works by opus number, uses the plural "opp." (e.g. "Opp. 1-3"). A single opus number may refer to a collection of works (e.g. a set of quartets) giving rise to designations like "Op. 1, No. 4". For misc. works without opus numbers, "WoO" is often used (e.g."Without Opus"). Posthumously assigned numbers may use "Op. posth". Opus numbers may not precisely reflect chronology (publication vs. composition), can be erroneous, sparse or duplicative. Thus, the works of some historically important composers may use separate catalog numbers (e.g. Bach, Haydn, Schubert). See wiki
- scherzo—lively, brisk, typically in a triple meter; usually a three-part form with central, contrasting trio
- solo—a piece or section of a piece featuring a single instrumental part. Often, this implies one instrument alone but may indicate a soloist with accompaniment (e.g. continuo) especially in a section within a larger work for ensemble
- suite—a set of instrumental pieces (movements) played together to create a larger whole. Suites tend towards collections of dances, frequently in the same key, preceded by a prelude, introduction or overture.