Britten Thematic Catalogue

Manuscript Sources

1. Quatre chansons francaises - 5 items

   Title	Quatre chansons francaises
   Subtitle	For high voice and orchestra
   RefNo	BBM/quatre_chansons_francaises
   Date	17 Jun-31 Aug 1928
   Description	Dedicated to Mr and Mrs Britten [Britten's Mother and Father]. Texts: 'Les nuit des Juin' by Victor Hugo, 'Sagesse' by Paul Verlaine, 'L'enfance' by Victor Hugo and 'Chanson D'Automne' by Paul Verlaine.
   Extent	5 items

   1. Text sources - 1 item

      Title	Text sources
      RefNo	BBM/quatre_chansons_francaises/1
      Date	circa Jun-Aug 1928
      Extent	1 item

      1. Annotated printed text material - 1 page of 491 page book [334]

         Title	Annotated printed text material
         RefNo	BBM/quatre_chansons_francaises/1/1
         Date	circa Jun-Aug 1928
         Description	Text for L'enfance with some translations added by Britten. Book is entitled 'The Oxford Book of French Verse'.
         Extent	1 page of 491 page book [334]
         PhysicalDescription	10.3 x 16.7 cm. Hardback.

   2. Holographs - 4 items

      Title	Holographs
      RefNo	BBM/quatre_chansons_francaises/2
      Date	Jun-Aug 1928
      Extent	4 items

      1. Composition draft - 1 manuscript; 1 page [1r-1v]

         Title	Composition draft
         Subtitle	Les nuits de Juin only
         RefNo	BBM/quatre_chansons_francaises/2/1
         Date	16 Jun 1928
         Description	Composition draft with date, title and signature. Britten has annotated the score throughout.
         Extent	1 manuscript; 1 page [1r-1v]
         PhysicalDescription	Pencil; 26.3 x 35.5 cm. Paper manufacturer = A L.

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

         Title	Fair copy
         Subtitle	Les nuits de Juin only
         RefNo	BBM/quatre_chansons_francaises/2/2
         Date	13-19 Jun 1928
         Description	Fair copy with date (on title page and page 5r), title and signature.
         Extent	1 manuscript; 5 pages [1r-5r]
         PhysicalDescription	Black ink; 26.4 x 35.5 cm. Paper manufacturer = A L. See Title Page of Collected Volume.
         TitlePageOfCollectedVolume	'[signature] / E.B.Britten / NUITS DE JUIN [Victor Hugo] / For Soprano Solo, and small orchestra / [performing forces listed] / June 13th-19th 1928'.

      3. Sketch - 1 page of 5 page manuscript [5r]

         Title	Sketch
         Subtitle	L'Enfance only
         RefNo	BBM/quatre_chansons_francaises/2/3
         Date	circa Aug 1928
         Description	Short sketch (one bar) marked 'Piu allegro poco a poco'. Only two of the instrumental parts contain notation.
         Extent	1 page of 5 page manuscript [5r]
         PhysicalDescription	Black ink; 26.5 x 35.4 cm. Shares a volume with other sources. See Related Records. Paper manufacturer = A L

      4. Fair copy - 23 pages of 25 page manuscript [1r-23r]

         Title	Fair copy
         Subtitle	Complete
         RefNo	BBM/quatre_chansons_francaises/2/4
         Date	17 Jun-31 Aug 1928
         Description	Fair copy with completion date and signature at the end of each song. Britten has listed the work's performing forces and composition date [17 Jun-31 Aug 1928] on page 1v. The dates for each song are marked as follows: 'June 17th, 1928' (no. 1) 'August 4th, 1928' (no. 2), 'Aug. 26th, 1928' (no. 3), 'August 31st, 1928) (no. 4).
         Extent	23 pages of 25 page manuscript [1r-23r]
         PhysicalDescription	Black ink; 26.1 x 35.4 cm. Shares a volume with other sources. See Related Records. See Title Page of Collected Volume. Paper manufacturer = A L.
         TitlePageOfCollectedVolume	'QUATRE CHANSONS FRANCAISES / PAR / E.B.BRITTEN / POUR UNE VOIX (SOPRANO) ET ORCHESTRE / [songs listed] / DEDICATED TO MR AND MRS R.V.BRITTEN [Britten's Mother and Father] / ON THE TWENTY-SEVENTH ANIVERSARY OF THEIR / WEDDING / SEPTEMBER 5TH 1928'.