Britten Thematic Catalogue

Manuscript Sources

1. Mass - 4 items

   Title	Mass
   Subtitle	For four voices
   RefNo	BBM/mass
   Date	4 Oct 1930-16 Jan 1931
   Description	Setting of the traditional latin mass.
   Extent	4 items

   1. Holographs - 4 items

      Title	Holographs
      RefNo	BBM/mass/1
      Date	between 4 Oct 1930-16 Jan 1931
      Extent	4 items

      1. Composition draft - 4 pages of 30 page manuscript [1r-4v]

         Title	Composition draft
         Subtitle	Kyrie only
         RefNo	BBM/mass/1/1
         Date	Oct-Nov 1930
         Description	Untitled draft at the end of which Britten has added the comment 'part writing!!'.
         Extent	4 pages of 30 page manuscript [1r-4v]
         PhysicalDescription	Pencil; 23.3 x 30.5 cm. Paper manufacturer's catalogue No. = RC1. hares a volume with other sources. See Related Records.

      2. Composition draft - 23 pages of 30 page manuscript [2r-28v]

         Title	Composition draft
         Subtitle	Complete
         RefNo	BBM/mass/1/2
         Date	4 Oct 1930-17 Dec 1931
         Description	Draft with titles.
         Extent	23 pages of 30 page manuscript [2r-28v]
         PhysicalDescription	Pencil; 23.3 x 30.5 cm. Paper manufacturer's catalogue No. = RC1.

      3. Discarded draft material - 2 pages of 30 page manuscript [29r & 30r]

         Title	Discarded draft material
         RefNo	BBM/mass/1/3
         Date	between Nov-Dec 1930
         Description	The material on page 29r is from the 'Credo' and the material on the second system of page 30r is from the 'Sanctus'.
         Extent	2 pages of 30 page manuscript [29r & 30r]
         PhysicalDescription	Pencil; 26.5 x 35.5 cm [page 29] and 23.3 x 30.5 cm [page 30]. Paper manufacturer's catalogue No. = RC1.

      4. Fair copy - 1 manuscript; 12 pages [1r-12v]

         Title	Fair copy
         RefNo	BBM/mass/1/4
         Date	17 Dec 1930-16 Jan 1931
         Description	Fair copy with date and signatures. Britten has also added the place of composition at the end of the piece as '51 Princes Square, W2'. This was where Britten lived at the beginning of his time at the Royal College of Music.
         Extent	1 manuscript; 12 pages [1r-12v]
         PhysicalDescription	Blue ink; 26.7 x 35.5 cm. Paper manufacturer = A L. See Title Page of Collected Volume.
         TitlePageOfCollectedVolume	'MASS / For Four Voices (agnus Dei II for five voices) / Composed by / Benjamin Britten / between the dates / October 4th 1930 & January 16th 1931 / London-Lowestoft'.