Britten Thematic Catalogue

Manuscript Sources

1. Rhapsody - 16 items

   Title	Rhapsody
   Subtitle	For string quartet
   RefNo	BBM/rhapsody_2
   Date	28 Jan-6 Feb 1929
   Extent	16 items
   Revised	6 Feb-11 Feb 1929 11 Feb-21 Mar 1929

   1. Holographs - 16 items

      Title	Holographs
      RefNo	BBM/rhapsody_2/1
      Date	28 Jan-21 Mar 1929
      Extent	16 items

      1. Sketch - 1 page of 5 page manuscript [1r]

         Title	Sketch
         RefNo	BBM/rhapsody_2/1/1
         Date	circa 28 Jan-6 Feb 1929
         Description	Short sketch (two bars) situated on the bottom system of page 1r, in short score.
         Extent	1 page of 5 page manuscript [1r]
         PhysicalDescription	Pencil; 9.5 x 14.7 cm. Staves are hand drawn onto writing paper that contains the address '21KIRKLEY CLIFF ROAD / LOWESOFT' in top right corner and 'TELEPHONE / LOWESTOFT 112' in top left. Britten has crossed out Kirkley Cliff Road address and written 'Farfield Hall' below. Shares a volume with other sources. See Related Records.

         1. Composition draft - 1 page of 3 page manuscript [3v]

            Title	Composition draft
            Subtitle	Incomplete and untitled
            RefNo	BBM/rhapsody_2/1/10
            Date	between 28 Jan-21 Mar 1929
            Description	Draft marked 'Piu Lento'.
            Extent	1 page of 3 page manuscript [3v]
            PhysicalDescription	Pencil; 23.4 x 30.9 cm. Shares a volume with other sources. See Related Records. Paper manufacturer's catalogue No. = RC1.

         2. Composition draft - 1 manuscript; 9 pages [1r-2r, 3r and 4r-9v]

            Title	Composition draft
            Subtitle	Third version-draft sections
            RefNo	BBM/rhapsody_2/1/11
            Date	11 Feb-19 Mar 1929
            Description	Manuscript containing draft sections, some with dates and titles, to be included in the work's third version.
            Extent	1 manuscript; 9 pages [1r-2r, 3r and 4r-9v]
            PhysicalDescription	Pencil and black ink; 23.3 x 31 cm. Shares a volume with other sources. See Related Records.

         3. Fair copy - 1 manuscript; 5 pages [1r, 2r-5r]

            Title	Fair copy
            Subtitle	Original version: complete
            RefNo	BBM/rhapsody_2/1/12
            Date	28 Jan-6 Feb 1929
            Description	Fair copy with date and signature. An archivist's note has been inserted into the manuscript stating that Britten removed pages 5-12 (between current pages 3v-4r) of this manuscript and used them as pages 7-14 [4r-7v] in the fair copy of the work's second version.
            Extent	1 manuscript; 5 pages [1r, 2r-5r]
            PhysicalDescription	Black ink; 23.3 x 31.4 cm.Paper manufacturer's catalogue No. = RC1. Shares a volume with other sources. See Related Records and Title Page of Collected Volume.
            TitlePageOfCollectedVolume	' E Benjamin Britten / RHAPSODY / for string quartet / Violino 1mo / Violino 2do / Viola / Violoncello'.

         4. Fair copy - 1 manuscript; 9 pages [1r-9r]

            Title	Fair copy
            Subtitle	Second version: complete
            RefNo	BBM/rhapsody_2/1/13
            Date	28 Jan-11 Feb 1929
            Description	Fair copy with signatures and dates. Page 4r -7v have been removed from the fair copy of the orginal version and inserted into this score.
            Extent	1 manuscript; 9 pages [1r-9r]
            PhysicalDescription	Black ink; 22.7 x 30.9cm Paper manufacturer's catalogue No. = RC1. See Title Page of Collected Volume.
            TitlePageOfCollectedVolume	'with alterations [signature] / RHAPSODY / for string quartet / VIOLINO 1mo / VIOLINO 2do / VIOLA / VIOLONCELLO / January 28th - February 11th 1929 / [signature]'.

         5. Discarded leaves - 1 page of 3 page manuscript [2r]

            Title	Discarded leaves
            Subtitle	Second version: eight bars only
            RefNo	BBM/rhapsody_2/1/14
            Date	circa 28 Jan-11 Feb 1929
            Description	Discarded material situated on the first system of the page. This section has been rewritten on page 4v of the second version's fair copy .
            Extent	1 page of 3 page manuscript [2r]
            PhysicalDescription	Black ink; 23.4 x 30.9 cm. Shares a volume with other sources. See Related Records. Paper manufacturer's catalogue No. = RC1.

         6. Instrumental part - 1 manuscript; 2 pages [1r-2v]

            Title	Instrumental part
            Subtitle	Second version: viola part
            RefNo	BBM/rhapsody_2/1/15
            Date	11 Feb 1929
            Description	Viola part with date and signatures.
            Extent	1 manuscript; 2 pages [1r-2v]
            PhysicalDescription	Black ink; 23.3 x 30.9 cm. Paper manufacturer's catalogue No. = RC1.

         7. Fair copy - 1 manuscript; 10 pages [1r-10r]

            Title	Fair copy
            Subtitle	Third version: complete
            RefNo	BBM/rhapsody_2/1/16
            Date	28 Jan-21 Mar 1929
            Description	Fair copy with signatures and dates.
            Extent	1 manuscript; 10 pages [1r-10r]
            PhysicalDescription	Black ink; 23.8 x 30.1 cm. See Title Page of Collected Volume.
            TitlePageOfCollectedVolume	'[signature] / RHAPSODY / For string quartet / Violino 1mo / Violino 2do / Viola / Violoncello / January 28th-March 21st 1929 / [signature]'.

      2. Composition draft - 1 page of 5 page manuscript [1v]

         Title	Composition draft
         Subtitle	Incomplete and untitled
         RefNo	BBM/rhapsody_2/1/2
         Date	circa 28 Jan-6 Feb 1929
         Description	Draft, in A major, situated on the top two systems of the page, in short score.
         Extent	1 page of 5 page manuscript [1v]
         PhysicalDescription	Pencil; 9.5 x 14.7 cm. Staves are hand drawn on reverse of writing paper. Shares a volume with other sources. See Related Records.

      3. Composition draft - 4 pages of 5 page manuscript [1v-4r]

         Title	Composition draft
         Subtitle	Incomplete and untitled
         RefNo	BBM/rhapsody_2/1/3
         Date	circa 28 Jan-6 Feb 1929
         Description	Draft starting on the third system of page 1v in short score. Britten has written a compositional note about the string parts down the left hand side of page 4r, continuing onto page 4v and then on an envelope also contained in this folio.
         Extent	4 pages of 5 page manuscript [1v-4r]
         PhysicalDescription	Pencil; 9.5 x 14.7 cm [pages 1-3] and 13.1 x 17.3 cm [page 4]. Staves are hand drawn onto writing paper. Pages 1-3 conatin the address '21KIRKLEY CLIFF ROAD / LOWESOFT' in top right corner and 'TELEPHONE / LOWESTOFT 112' in top left. Britten has crossed out Kirkley Cliff Road address and written 'Farfield Hall' below. Shares a volume with other sources. See Related Records.

      4. Composition draft - 1 page of 5 page manuscript [5r]

         Title	Composition draft
         Subtitle	Incomplete and untitled
         RefNo	BBM/rhapsody_2/1/4
         Date	circa 28 Jan-6 Feb 1929
         Description	Possible draft of this piece situated on the bottom two systems of the page.
         Extent	1 page of 5 page manuscript [5r]
         PhysicalDescription	Pencil; 16.9 x 22.9 cm. Staves are hand drawn on blank paper. Shares a volume with other sources. See Related Records.

      5. Composition draft - 1 page of 4 page manuscript [2r]

         Title	Composition draft
         Subtitle	Incomplete and untitled
         RefNo	BBM/rhapsody_2/1/5
         Date	circa 28 Jan-6 Feb 1929
         Description	Draft situated on the bottom two systems of the page.
         Extent	1 page of 4 page manuscript [2r]
         PhysicalDescription	Pencil; 23.3 x 17.5 cm. Paper manufacturer's catalogue No. = RC1. Shares a volume with other sources. See Related Records.

      6. Composition draft - 1 page of 2 page manuscript [2v]

         Title	Composition draft
         Subtitle	Incomplete and untitled
         RefNo	BBM/rhapsody_2/1/6
         Date	circa 28 Jan-6 Feb 1929
         Description	Draft largely crossed out in pencil.
         Extent	1 page of 2 page manuscript [2v]
         PhysicalDescription	Pencil; 23.3 x 31 cm. Shares a volume with other sources. See Related Records. Paper manufacturer's catalogue No. = RC1.

      7. Composition draft - 1 page of 3 page manuscript [1r-1v]

         Title	Composition draft
         Subtitle	Incomplete and untitled
         RefNo	BBM/rhapsody_2/1/7
         Date	circa 28 Jan-6 Feb 1929
         Description	Draft ending on the second system of page 1v.
         Extent	1 page of 3 page manuscript [1r-1v]
         PhysicalDescription	Pencil; 23.4 x 30.9 cm. Shares a volume with other sources. See Related Records. Paper manufacturer's catalogue No. = RC1.

      8. Composition draft - 1 page of 3 page manuscript [2r-2v]

         Title	Composition draft
         Subtitle	Incomplete and untitled
         RefNo	BBM/rhapsody_2/1/8
         Date	between 28 Jan-21 Mar 1929
         Description	Possible draft of this piece starting on the second system of page 2r.
         Extent	1 page of 3 page manuscript [2r-2v]
         PhysicalDescription	Pencil; 23.4 x 30.9 cm. Shares a volume with other sources. See Related Records. Paper manufacturer's catalogue No. = RC1.

      9. Composition draft - 1 page of 3 page manuscript [3r]

         Title	Composition draft
         Subtitle	Incomplete and untitled
         RefNo	BBM/rhapsody_2/1/9
         Date	between 28 Jan-21 Mar 1929
         Description	Draft starting on the fourth bar of the second system of the page.
         Extent	1 page of 3 page manuscript [3r]
         PhysicalDescription	Pencil; 23.4 x 30.9 cm. Shares a volume with other sources. See Related Records. Paper manufacturer's catalogue No. = RC1.