Britten Thematic Catalogue

Manuscript Sources

1. Thy King's birthday - 6 items

   Title	Thy King's birthday
   Subtitle	For soprano, contralto and chorus
   RefNo	BBM/thy_kings_birthday
   Date	13 Jan-26 Mar 1931
   Description	Posthumously published as 'Christ's Nativity'. 'Sweet was the song' was published separately in 1966.Movements as follows:1) Christ's Nativity [Text by Henry Vaughan]2) Sweet was the song [ Text from William Ballet's lute book]3) Preparations [Text from Christ Church M.S]4) New Prince, New Pomp [Text from the scriptures and poem of a poem by Robert Southwell]5) Carol of King Cnut [Text by C.W.Stubbs]
   Extent	6 items

   1. Holographs - 6 items

      Title	Holographs
      RefNo	BBM/thy_kings_birthday/1
      Date	13 Jan-26 Mar 1931
      Extent	6 items

      1. Composition draft - 1 manuscript; 2 pages [1r-2r]

         Title	Composition draft
         Subtitle	Sweet was the song only
         RefNo	BBM/thy_kings_birthday/1/1
         Date	13 Jan 1931
         Description	Draft with date and signature.
         Extent	1 manuscript; 2 pages [1r-2r]
         PhysicalDescription	Pencil; 23.7 x 31 cm. Paper manufacturer = The B.F.Wood Music Co.

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

         Title	Fair copy
         Subtitle	Sweet was the song only
         RefNo	BBM/thy_kings_birthday/1/2
         Date	17 Jan 1931
         Description	Draft with dates and signatures. Britten has added the instruction 'CHORUS SEATED' under the first three bars on the first soprano part.
         Extent	1 manuscript; 2 pages [1r-2v]
         PhysicalDescription	Blue ink; 26.3 x 35.5 cm. Paper manufacturer = A L. See Title Page of Collected Volume.
         TitlePageOfCollectedVolume	' II / "SWEET WAS THE SONG" / taken from William Ballet's Lute Book / set to music for / Contralto Solo with accompaniment for / female chorus / by / [signature] / on / Jan 13th 1931 / Bayswater / London'.

      3. Composition draft - 11 pages of 12 page manuscript[1r-11r]

         Title	Composition draft
         Subtitle	Christ's Nativity, Preparations, New Prince, New Pomp and The carol of King cnut only.
         RefNo	BBM/thy_kings_birthday/1/3
         Date	16 Feb-11 Mar 1931
         Description	Composition draft with dates and signatures. The material on the top system of page 1r appears to be a false start. All movements are titled with the exception of IV [New Prince, New Pomp].
         Extent	11 pages of 12 page manuscript[1r-11r]
         PhysicalDescription	Pencil; 26.2 x 35.5 cm. Paper manufacturer = A L. See Title Page of Collected Volume.
         TitlePageOfCollectedVolume	' Thy King's Birthday / Suite for / Unaccompanied chorus & Sop & Contralto solo / by / [signature]'.

      4. Discarded draft material - 1 manuscript; 6 pages [1r-6r]

         Title	Discarded draft material
         RefNo	BBM/thy_kings_birthday/1/4
         Date	16 Feb-11 Mar 1931
         Description	Material discarded from BBM/thy_kings_birthday/1/3.
         Extent	1 manuscript; 6 pages [1r-6r]
         PhysicalDescription	Pencil; 26.2 x 35.5 cm. Paper manufacturer = A L.

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

         Title	Fair copy
         Subtitle	Carol of King Cnut only
         RefNo	BBM/thy_kings_birthday/1/5
         Date	25 Feb 1931
         Description	Fair copy with dates and signatures. A number of annotated passages have been pasted on at various parts of the score.
         Extent	1 manuscript; 2 pages [1r-2v]
         PhysicalDescription	Blue ink; 26.3 x 35.5 cm. Paper manufacturer = A L. See Title Page of Collected Volume.
         TitlePageOfCollectedVolume	'THE CAROL OF KING CNUT / C.W.Stubbs / Set to Music for 4 part / Chorus (S.A.T.B) / by / [signature] / on / Feb 13th-16th 1931 / Bayswater / London'.

      6. Fair copy - 1 manuscript; 14 pages [1r-14r]

         Title	Fair copy
         Subtitle	Complete
         RefNo	BBM/thy_kings_birthday/1/6
         Date	26 Mar 1931
         Description	Annotated fair copy with date and signatures.
         Extent	1 manuscript; 14 pages [1r-14r]
         PhysicalDescription	Black ink and pencil; 26.3 x 35.7 cm. Paper manufacturer = A L.