Britten Thematic Catalogue

Manuscript Sources

1. I saw three ships - 5 items

   Title	I saw three ships
   Subtitle	For S.A.T.B chorus
   RefNo	BBM/i_saw_three_ships
   Date	12-13 Sep 1930
   Description	Text by Anon. Later published as 'The Sycamore Tree'.
   Extent	5 items
   Revised	30 Apr-2 May 1934; Nov 1967

   1. Holographs - 5 items

      Title	Holographs
      RefNo	BBM/i_saw_three_ships/1
      Date	Sep 1930-1934
      Extent	5 items

      1. Composition draft - 1 manuscript; 3 pages [1r-3r]

         Title	Composition draft
         Subtitle	Complete
         RefNo	BBM/i_saw_three_ships/1/1
         Date	12 Sep 1930
         Description	Untitled draft with date and signature. A large section on page 2r has been crossed out and rewritten on page 3r.
         Extent	1 manuscript; 3 pages [1r-3r]
         PhysicalDescription	Pencil; 23.3 x 31 cm. Paper manufacturer = The B.F.Wood Music Co.

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

         Title	Fair copy
         Subtitle	Complete
         RefNo	BBM/i_saw_three_ships/1/2
         Date	12-13 Sep 1930
         Description	Fair copy with dates and signatures.
         Extent	1 manuscript; 3 pages [1r-3v]
         PhysicalDescription	Black ink; 23.5 x 31 cm. Paper manufacturer = The B.F.Wood Music Co. See Title Page of Collected Volume.
         TitlePageOfCollectedVolume	' EBB / TWO CHORAL SONGS / NO II / I Saw Three Ships / Words. anon / Set to Music for Chorus (S.A.T.B) by / [signature] / on Sept 12th-13th 1930 / LOWESTOFT-SUFFOLK'.

      3. Fair copy - 3 pages of 5 page manuscript [3v-5r]

         Title	Fair copy
         Subtitle	Complete
         RefNo	BBM/i_saw_three_ships/1/3
         Date	27-28 Oct 1930
         Description	Fair copy with signature and original composition date and place 'LOWESTOFT on SEPT 12th-13th 1930 '. Britten has added a comment at the bottom of page 3v: 'Words taken from "The Way of Poetry" (John Drinkwater) '.
         Extent	3 pages of 5 page manuscript [3v-5r]
         PhysicalDescription	Black ink; 23.5 x 30.5 cm. Paper manufacturer's catalogue No. = RC1. Shares a volume with other sources. See Related Records and Title Page of Collected Volume.
         TitlePageOfCollectedVolume	'[signature] / TWO CHORAL SONGS / No I A HYMN TO THE VIRGIN (Anon) / CHORUS S.A.T.B - SEMI-CHORUS S.A.T.B / No II I SAW THREE SHIPS (Anon) / CHORUS S.A.T.B / Set to music by / E.BENJAMIN BRITTEN / 1st peformed St.John Church 1931?'.

      4. Composition draft - 1 manuscript; 3 pages [1r-3v]

         Title	Composition draft
         Subtitle	Revised version
         RefNo	BBM/i_saw_three_ships/1/4
         Date	30 Apr-2 May 1934
         Description	Heavily annotated draft with incorrect original composition date, 'Aug 1930', on page 2v. Under this date Britten has added 'rewritten Prestatyn 1934'. Page 3v contains a section for eight voices..
         Extent	1 manuscript; 3 pages [1r-3v]
         PhysicalDescription	Pencil, red pencil and black ink; 26.4 x 35.5 cm. Paper manufacturer = A L.

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

         Title	Fair copy
         Subtitle	Complete: Revised version
         RefNo	BBM/i_saw_three_ships/1/5
         Date	30 Apr-2 May 1934
         Description	Fair copy with incorrect original composition date, 'Aug 1930', on page 3v, next to which Britten has written '(1934)' indicating the year in which the work was rewritten and the date of this score. Next to Britten's signature on page 1r he has added '(arr BB.)'. Britten has also added a piano part throughout for rehearsal purposes only.
         Extent	1 manuscript; 3 pages [1r-3v]
         PhysicalDescription	Black ink; 26.3 x 35.5 cm. Paper manufacturer = A L.