Britten Thematic Catalogue

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BTC1146 WHO ARE THESE CHILDREN?

Lyrics, rhymes and riddles by William Soutar for tenor and piano, op. 84
Period of composition: Spring 1969 - Summer 1969
First performance: 7 Mar 1971 >>
Type of performance: Concert performance
Location: New Hall, Department of Music, University College, Cardiff, Cardiff Festival
Performance details:

Peter Pears ten, Benjamin Britten pf

Nos 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9 and 12 only

Genre: Solo vocal
Text: William Soutar (1898-1943)

In Scottish dialect and English

Duration: 19'
Dedication: 'To Tertia Liebenthal'

Tertia Liebenthal (1890-1970), Edinburgh concert promoter, founder of the Scottish National Gallery lunchtime concert series in 1941.

Notes

The number and order of the songs to be included in the work was a matter of uncertainty for an unusually long time. The cycle was composed for Tertia Liebenthal's 700th National Gallery of Scotland Concert; in the event its official première (actually omitting 'Bed-time') was given as a memorial tribute to her as the planned first performance - April 1970 - had to be postponed for over a year because Pears was ill.

The 1997 edition includes an appendix containing the three songs written for, but omitted from, the cycle as a whole. They may not be performed as part of the cycle.

Discarded Numbers

  • Discarded: Dawtie's devotion
  • Discarded: The gully
  • Discarded: Tradition

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