Britten Thematic Catalogue

Notes

In a letter to his parents on 19 January 1930, Britten remarks that his music teacher, Walter Greatorex, had asked for a piece of his to be played at a school concert. Britten writes: 'I thrust the nicer modern one into his hands - but he nearly choked...so I had to show him the silly small one, and he even calls that one modern!!!' (Letters from a life: selected letters and diaries of Benjamin Britten, vol 1: 1923-1939, ed. Mitchell and Reed (London: Faber, 1998) p. 119.) It would appear that Bagatelle is the 'silly small one', as it was performed in a school concert later in the term (see below). The 'nicer modern one' is Two pieces (Nov-Dec 1929), as indicated in Britten's diary entry of 19 January 1930.

The first performance was reviewed in the school magazine, The Gresham, XII, Oct 1929-Jul 1930, p. 170.