The purpose of this study was to recognize the unique character of benjamin britten s writing for cello and to exhibit his exceptional contribution to the cello repertory. It was the introduction of mstislav rostropovich by shostakovich that transformed benjamin britten from primarily an opera and vocal composer to one whose abilities were spread more evenly across instrumental and vocal works. Joe cornella, cello and ana sera, mezzosoprano asu digital. Scan the qr code or copy the address below into your wallet to send bitcoin. It led directly to the composition of some of the most important works for cello of the twentieth century. The sonata in c for cello and piano, op 65, by yoko hirota. Bach and britten cello suites, what this musical form meant to each composer.
Rostropovich first performed the suite at the snape maltings, 21 december 1974. Cello suite no 2, op 80 britten from sigcd336 hyperion. The cello suites came at a crossroads in brittens career. A major release at the start of brittens anniversary celebrations. Complete music for cello solo and cello and piano bt 0617. The purpose of this study was to recognize the unique character of benjamin brittens writing for cello and to exhibit his exceptional contribution to the cello repertory.
After bach, only kodaly ever wrote as effectively for solo cello, conjuring from it a resonant feast of chimes and counterpoints. Britten cello suites, an album by benjamin britten, truls mork on spotify we and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. Sonata for cello and piano by mstislav rostropovich and benjamin britten on amazon music. The cello sonata was duly delivered, then recorded by rostropovich and britten in 1961. Britten, however, with his three suites for unaccompanied cello, did exactly this, leaving posterity with one of the finest repertoires for the instrument by any 20thcentury composer. Brittens correspondence with rostropovich reveals the composers humility in the. Like its predecessor, benjamin brittens cello suite no. A friendship was being forged, and so was a whole catalogue of cello works for the russian. The composer consented, and a year later produced the cello sonata, op. Benjamin britten was a british composer, conductor, and pianist. Benjamin britten sheet music books sorting and filters. Inspired by this gloriously uninhibited musician, britten agreed.
The suites were the first original solo instrumental music that britten wrote for and dedicated to rostropovich, but britten had earlier composed a cadenza for joseph haydns cello concerto in c major, for rostropovich, in 1964. To download pdf, click the download pdf button below the appropriate sheet music image. Alban gerhardt, among the greatest living exponents of the instrument. Benjamin brittens suites for solo cello have been extensively documented. Like the first suite, the second blends baroque forms with brittens modern sensibility. Each suite has background information written by benjamin britten for a more authentic performance.
Joe cornella, cello and ana sera, mezzosoprano asu. We are hugely fortunate that it gave rise to brittens being inspired to write extensively for the cello. Their begetter in an inspirational sense was rostropovich, for whom the 1961 cello sonata and the cello symphony of two years later were also written. Britten s cello suites are already challenging and complex. Benjamin britten sheet music books hard copy benjamin britten sheet music digital. Benjamin britten, however, was just as inspired by the great cellist mstislav rostropovichs rich, romantic playing of the bach suites as by the suites themselves. Like the first suite, the second blends baroque forms with britten s modern sensibility. Notes the title page reference to robert schumann is due to the fact that schumanns arrangement used dotzauers edition as its source. Britten s cello writing reveals the influence of bach in its skilful suggestion of a harmonic dimension by purely linear means, and in the fugues which appear in all three suites britten even shows himself able to create the illusion of several. We are hugely fortunate that it gave rise to britten s being inspired to write extensively for the cello. Titlestructuralorganization inbenjaminbrittensthreesuitesforsolocello.
Royal opera house orchestrabritten decca 436 9902dwo 2. Born and deceased in suffolk, england, benjamin britten 191976 was a precocious musical spirit who. Rostropovichs own sixties recording of the cello symphony with britten conducting the english chamber orchestra is still available london 425 1002, as are his interpretations of the first. The suite no 1 was composed in november and december 1964 and was brittens first major score after completing the church parable curlew river. Cossmann, bernhard 18221910 5 concertetudes for cello, op. He had started writing more instrumental music after a long period concentrating primarily on vocal repertoire of one sort or another, a fact shared with bach at the time he wrote his own cello suites in 1720. Mstislav rostropovich recorded his decca accounts of brittens op. Rostropovich gave the first performances of each work, and recorded suites nos 1 and 2 commercially. Britten cello suites by benjamin britten on spotify. In 1964 britten presented rostropovich with the suite for cello op. Brittens cello suites are already challenging and complex. Like its predecessor, benjamin britten s cello suite no.
Brittens cello writing reveals the influence of bach in its skilful suggestion of a harmonic dimension by purely linear means, and in the fugues which appear in all three suites britten even shows himself able to create the illusion of several. Wispelwey, once again, plays with great naturalness, ease and spontaneity. Britten was born in lowestoft in suffolk, the son of a dentist and a talented amateur musician. The diversity and scope among various recordings of these works seems remarkable, given that the oldest of them was written only in 1964. This large work is in six diverse movements, split into pairs by three canto movements which function like the promenades from mussorgskys pictures at an exhibition always recognisable but appearing in new guises with the development of. In the manner of much of brittens music in this period, a ritornello theme here entitled canto is used to link the constituent. Bachs cello suites, volumes 1 and 2 book description. Any composer who writes a suite for unaccompanied cello takes inspiration from johann sebastian bachs glorious models in some measure.
Britten made a significant contribution to the cello repertory with his six cello works. And i actually do have a few questions for you if you dont mind. Bachs suites for unaccompanied cello are among the most cherished and frequently played works in the entire literature of music, and yet they have never been the subject of a fulllength music analytical study. Cello solo argent, mark hymnus for solo cello part bach, johann sebastian j. Three suites cello by benjamin britten 191976 parts. In 1979 the britten estate authorised julian lloyd webber to. This was mainly due to the fact that these were the first pieces i had encountered that also occupied the. Brittens first suite for cello is his most poignant, and clings to the heart and ear. In the midst of writing these pieces for cello, britten also composed several other. Britten composed the third suite in 1971, inspired by rostropovichs playing of the unaccompanied cello suites of bach. His birthday, 22 november, is the feastday of saint cecilia, the patron saint of music, and he showed musical gifts very early in life. This work provides an excellent overview of historical background and. Imo, mullershotts interpretations bring more out of these pieces than rostropovich or gaillard both favorites of mine. This became brittens first of five major works written for rostropovich over the course of the next decade the others being the cello symphony and the three suites for solo cello.
Suite i for cello solo mutopia project a4 pdf zipped suite no. Britten cello download free sheet music and scores scorser. Alban gerhardt, among the greatest living exponents of the. Brittens long friendship with cellist mstislav rostropovich was one of the most inspiring and fruitful musical collaborations in history. Sonata for cello and piano, an album by benjamin britten, mstislav rostropovich on spotify we and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. The first suite was premiered by rostropovich at the aldeburgh festival on june 27, 1965. Imo, mullershotts interpretations bring more out of these pieces. Jan 26, 20 after hearing slava play the first cello concerto by another in this group, shostakovich, britten agreed to write the sonata in c op 65 196061 for him, followed by the ever elusive cello. Benjamin britten sheet music books scores buy online. And then, after hearing rostropovich play the bach solo cello suites, britten presented him with his solo. The result was the sonata for cello and piano in c, op 65 that rostropovich premiered with britten at the 1961 aldeburgh festival. To view the first page of britten suite for cello solo op. Titlestructuralorganizationinbenjaminbrittensthreesuitesforsolocello.
The friendship between britten and rostropovich is well documented. After hearing slava play the first cello concerto by another in this group, shostakovich, britten agreed to write the sonata in c op 65 196061 for him, followed by the ever elusive cello. Gerhardt and osborne prove sympathetic partners in this emotional rollercoaster ride which deserves to be played more often in the recital hall. Brittens suites for solo cello are not perhaps an easy listen any more than they are easy to play, but jamie. This was mainly due to the fact that these were the first pieces i had encountered that also occupied the genre of solo cello suite. Apr 15, 2012 in 1964 britten presented rostropovich with the suite for cello op. Thus, the first two movements, a declamato and a fugue, are similar in basic structure to a bach prelude and fugue.
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