Britten Thematic Catalogue

Beta Version

BTC1078 SONGS FROM THE CHINESE

For high voice and guitar, op. 58
Composition date: Autumn 1957
First performance: 17 Jun 1958 >>
Type of performance: Concert performance
Location: Great Glemham House, Aldeburgh Festival
Performance details:

Peter Pears ten, Julian Bream gui

Genre: Solo vocal
Text: Chinese poets (see individual movements) translated by Arthur Waley
Duration: 10'
Dedication: 'For Peg and Lu, from Ben, Peter and Julian'

Prince Ludwig of Hess and the Rhine (1908-1968), German artist, art historian, poet and translator, head of the House of Hesse, and his British wife Princess Margaret (1913-1997), who had been introduced to Britten and Pears by Lord Harewood in 1952. Julian Bream (b. 1933), British guitarist, who edited the guitar part for this work.

All content copyright (C) Britten-Pears Foundation 2012 unless stated. Please note all BTC numbers are provisional at this stage.