Britten Thematic Catalogue

Manuscript Sources

1. The birds - 8 items

   Title	The birds
   Subtitle	For soprano and strings
   RefNo	BBM/the_birds
   Date	3 Jun-4 Aug 1929
   Description	Text from a poem of the same name by Hilaire Belloc. Dedicated to Britten's mother 'Mrs R.V.Britten'. Later arranged for voice and piano in 1934.
   Extent	8 items
   Revised	4 Aug-30 Dec 1929 30 Dec 1929-30 May 1930

   1. Holographs - 8 items

      Title	Holographs
      RefNo	BBM/the_birds/1
      Date	3 Jun 1929-Jun 1934
      Extent	8 items

      1. Sketch - 1 manuscript; 1 page [1v]

         Title	Sketch
         Subtitle	Strings only
         RefNo	BBM/the_birds/1/1
         Date	circa 3 Jun 1929 - 30 May 1930
         Description	Untitled short sketch (three bars) situated on the second system of the page, with false start.
         Extent	1 manuscript; 1 page [1v]
         PhysicalDescription	Pencil; 26.1 x 35.5 cm. Paper manufacturer = A L. Shares a volume with other sources. See Related Records.

      2. Composition draft - 1 page of 4 page manuscript [3v]

         Title	Composition draft
         Subtitle	Incomplete: Strings part only
         RefNo	BBM/the_birds/1/2
         Date	circa 3 Jun-4 Aug 1929
         Description	Short draft (six bars only) with a few words of text above the top line of each system.
         Extent	1 page of 4 page manuscript [3v]
         PhysicalDescription	Pencil; 23.3 x 30.9 cm. Paper manufacturer's catalogue No. = RC1. Shares a volume with other sources. See Related Records.

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

         Title	Composition draft
         Subtitle	Complete: Original version
         RefNo	BBM/the_birds/1/3
         Date	3 Jun 1929
         Description	Draft with date and signatures. The string part is in short score.
         Extent	1 page of 2 page manuscript [1r-1v]
         PhysicalDescription	Pencil; 23.1 x 31 cm. Paper manufacturer's catalogue No. = RC1. Shares a volume with other sources. See Related Records.

      4. Composition draft - 1 manuscript; 1 page [1r-1v]

         Title	Composition draft
         Subtitle	Strings part only: Second version
         RefNo	BBM/the_birds/1/4
         Date	28 Oct 1929
         Description	Draft with date and signature.
         Extent	1 manuscript; 1 page [1r-1v]
         PhysicalDescription	Pencil; 26.3 x 35.5 cm. Paper manufacturer = A L.

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

         Title	Fair copy
         Subtitle	Complete: Original version
         RefNo	BBM/the_birds/1/5
         Date	3 Jun-4 Aug 1929
         Description	Fair copy with dates and signatures. Britten has added a performance note at the bottom of page 1v which reads 'The orchestral accompaniment should be "kept down" throughout this song, and should never be allowed to become too sonorous'.
         Extent	1 manuscript; 3 pages [1r-3r]
         PhysicalDescription	Blue and black ink; 23.2 x 31 cm. Paper manufacturer's catalogue No. = RC1. See Title Page of Collected Volume.
         TitlePageOfCollectedVolume	'[signature] / Dedicated to his mother Mrs R.V.Britten (E.R) / THE BIRDS / Hilaire Belloc / Set to music for Soprano and Strings / by / [signature] / June 3rd 1929-august 4th 1929 / HOLT-NORFOLK / LOWESTOFT-SUFFOLK'.

      6. Fair copy - 1 manuscript; 3 pages [1r-3v]

         Title	Fair copy
         Subtitle	Complete: Second version
         RefNo	BBM/the_birds/1/6
         Date	3 Jun-30 Dec 1929
         Description	Annotated fair copy with dates and signatures.
         Extent	1 manuscript; 3 pages [1r-3v]
         PhysicalDescription	Blue ink; 23.4 x 31 cm. Paper manufacturer's catalogue No. = RC1. See Title Page of Collected Volume.
         TitlePageOfCollectedVolume	' EBB / Dedicated to Mrs R.V.Britten (E.R) / [small drawing of birds] / THE BIRDS / Hilaire Belloc / Set to music / for soprano solo & strings / by / [signature] / June 3rd 1929 - Dec 30th 1929 / HOLT-NORFOLK / LOWESTOFT-SUFFOLK'.

      7. Fair copy - 3 pages of 4 page manuscript [1r-3v]

         Title	Fair copy
         Subtitle	Complete: Third version
         RefNo	BBM/the_birds/1/7
         Date	3 Jun 1929-30 May 1930
         Description	Fair copy with dates and signatures.
         Extent	3 pages of 4 page manuscript [1r-3v]
         PhysicalDescription	Blue ink; 23.3 x 30.9 cm. Paper manufacturer = The B.F.Wood Music Co. Shares a volume with other sources. See Related Records and Title Page of Collected Volume.
         TitlePageOfCollectedVolume	'EBB / THE BIRDS / Hilaire Belloc / Set to Music for soprano solo and strings / by / [signature] / June 3rd 1929 / HOLT-NORFOLK /originally finished / LOWESTOFT SUFFOLK / 1st 2 alterations / aug 4th & Dec 30th 1929 / HOLT NORFOLK / 3rd alteration / May 30th 30'.

      8. Discarded leaves - 1 pages of 4 page manuscript [4r]

         Title	Discarded leaves
         Subtitle	Third version
         RefNo	BBM/the_birds/1/8
         Date	3 Jun 1929 - 30 May 1930
         Description	Discarded page containing four bars only.
         Extent	1 pages of 4 page manuscript [4r]
         PhysicalDescription	Blue ink; 23.3 x 30.9 cm. Paper manufacturer = The B.F.Wood Music Co. Shares a volume with other sources. See Related Records and Title Page of Collected Volume.
         TitlePageOfCollectedVolume	'EBB / THE BIRDS / Hilaire Belloc / Set to Music for soprano solo and strings / by / [signature] / June 3rd 1929 / HOLT-NORFOLK /originally finished / LOWESTOFT SUFFOLK / 1st 2 alterations / aug 4th & Dec 30th 1929 / HOLT NORFOLK / 3rd alteration / May 30th 30'.