Published title (1994)
For further details see individual movements.
Britten's diary entries describe the piece as a 'choral (xmas) symphony' (23 February 1931) and a 'suite' (20 March 1931). 'Sweet was the song' was revised and published separately in 1966.
Christ's nativity (Henry Vaughan) (SSAATTBB)
2 March 1931
Catherine Wyn-Rogers / Susan Gritton / Holst Singers / Stephen Layton.( Hyperion CDA66825).
Copyright 1994 Faber Music. Reproduced with permission.
Copyright 1994 Faber Music. Reproduced with permission.
Sweet was the song (William Ballet's Lute Book) (contr, SSAA)
13 January 1931. Revised for publication in 1966: see 'Related works'.
Catherine Wyn-Rogers / Susan Gritton / Holst Singers / Stephen Layton. ( Hyperion CDA66825).
Copyright 1994 Faber Music. Reproduced with permission.
Preparations (Churst Church ms.) (SATB, SATB)
11 March 1931
Catherine Wyn-Rogers / Susan Gritton / Holst Singers / Stephen Layton. ( Hyperion CDA66825).
Copyright 1994 Faber Music. Reproduced with permission.
Copyright 1994 Faber Music. Reproduced with permission.
Copyright 1994 Faber Music. Reproduced with permission.
New prince, new pomp (Scriptures and Robert Southwell) (sop, SATB)
25 February 1931
Catherine Wyn-Rogers / Susan Gritton / Holst Singers / Stephen Layton. ( Hyperion CDA66825).
Copyright 1994 Faber Music. Reproduced with permission.
Carol of King Cnut (C.W. Stubbs) (SSAATTBB)
18 February 1931, revised 25 February.
Catherine Wyn-Rogers / Susan Gritton / Holst Singers / Stephen Layton. ( Hyperion CDA66825).
Copyright 1994 Faber Music. Reproduced with permission.
Copyright 1994 Faber Music. Reproduced with permission.
Thy King's birthday
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]
Holographs
Composition draft
Draft with date and signature.
Pencil; 23.7 x 31 cm. Paper manufacturer = The B.F.Wood Music Co.
Fair copy
Draft with dates and signatures. Britten has added the instruction 'CHORUS SEATED' under the first three bars on the first soprano part.
Blue ink; 26.3 x 35.5 cm. Paper manufacturer = A L. See Title Page of Collected Volume.
' 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'.
Composition draft
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].
Pencil; 26.2 x 35.5 cm. Paper manufacturer = A L. See Title Page of Collected Volume.
' Thy King's Birthday / Suite for / Unaccompanied chorus & Sop & Contralto solo / by / [signature]'.
Discarded draft material
Material discarded from BBM/thy_kings_birthday/1/3.
Pencil; 26.2 x 35.5 cm. Paper manufacturer = A L.
Fair copy
Fair copy with dates and signatures. A number of annotated passages have been pasted on at various parts of the score.
Blue ink; 26.3 x 35.5 cm. Paper manufacturer = A L. See Title Page of Collected Volume.
'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'.
Fair copy
Annotated fair copy with date and signatures.
Black ink and pencil; 26.3 x 35.7 cm. Paper manufacturer = A L.
Alison Barlow sop, Adrienne Murray mez, Britten Singers, Stephen Wilkinson cond
Rosamund Strode sop, Purcell Singers, Imogen Holst cond.
Date derived from Britten's diary.
An arrangement of Beethoven's piano piece.