Britten Thematic Catalogue

Beta Version

BTC962 A SHEPHERD'S CAROL

For chorus (SATB) unaccompanied
Period of composition: 8 - 11 Nov 1944
Genre: Choral (unaccompanied)
Text: W.H. Auden (1907-1973)
Duration: 3'

Notes

Written along with Chorale after an old French Carol for a BBC feature programme, 'Poet's Christmas', produced by Edward Sackville-West. The chorus is one of the two portions of the 'Christmas Oratorio' by W.H. Auden (the complete text of which was later published as 'For the Time Being') set by Britten. It was withdrawn by the composer after the first performance and not performed again until 1961.

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