Britten Thematic Catalogue

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Anthem for chorus (men, women and children) with ad libitum accompaniment for organ, op. 75
Composition date: Jul 1965
First performance: 24 Oct 1965 >>
Type of performance: Concert performance
Location: USA: UN General Assembly Hall, New York France: Maison de l'ORTF, Paris UK: Royal Festival Hall, London
Performance details:

US: Schola Cantorum, Farmingdale Boys'Choir, Richard Foster org, Hugh Ross and Arpad Darzas cond

France: ORTF Chorus and Boys' Chorus, Jacques Jouineau and Jean-Paul Kreder cond

UK: LSO Chorus, Choristers of Westminster Abbey, Ralph Downes org, Istvan Kertesz and Douglas Guest cond

Genre: Choral
Text: Various (click for details)

From Virgil's Eclogue IV (set in Latin), and sentences (set in English) by Jesus Christ, Asoka, Sophocles (tr E.F. Watling), Lao Tzu, John Bright, William Penn, Herman Melville, Albert Camus (tr Justin O'Brien), Stanislaw Jerzy Lec, Yevgeny Yevtushenko (tr R. Milner-Gulland and P. Levi), William Blake, Friedrich Hölderlin (tr Michael Hamburger), Alfred, Lord Tennyson and Percy Bysshe Shelley.

Initially the composer had thought of using Latin texts only, but in conversation with E.M. Forster and Peter Pears on 20 April 1965 the idea of using a selection of 'sentences or verses from the great peace lovers of history' emerged.

Performing forces:

The composer's 'Notes on performance' indicate that the smaller chorus of boys (or boys and girls) should be 'placed separately (if possible in a gallery) and with its own conductor.'

Duration: 10'
Commissioned:

By the Secretary-General of the United Nations, U Thant in May 1964 to mark the twentieth anniversary of the UN.

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