Britten Thematic Catalogue

Beta Version

BTC947 SERENADE

For tenor, horn and strings, op. 31
Period of composition: Mar - Apr 1943
First performance: 15 Oct 1943 >>
Type of performance: Concert performance
Location: Wigmore Hall, London
Performance details:

Peter Pears ten, Dennis Brain hn, 'orchestral ensemble', Walter Goehr cond

Genre: Vocal
Text: See individual movements
Duration: 24'
Dedication: 'To E. S.-W.'

Edward Sackville-West (1901-1965), novelist and musician, who helped Britten with the selection of the texts for the Serenade.

Notes

When the vocal score was originally issued, alternative solo instrumental parts (for viola or cello) were also available on sale to facilitate domestic performances.

Movements

Discarded Movements

  • Discarded: Now sleeps the crimson petal (Alfred, Lord Tennyson, 1802-1892) >>
    notes:

    Completed 22 Mar 1943. It has been published (in 1989) but must not be performed as part of the Serenade.

All content copyright (C) Britten-Pears Foundation 2012 unless stated. Please note all BTC numbers are provisional at this stage.