718BTC714714BBM/thy_kings_birthdayTHY KING'S BIRTHDAYFor soprano, contralto and chorusChrist's nativity

Published title (1994)

1Choral (unaccompanied)13 Jan 193181426 Mar 1931815

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.

00193113 Jan - 26 Mar 19312210718

Christ's nativity (Henry Vaughan) (SSAATTBB)

2 March 1931

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Catherine Wyn-Rogers / Susan Gritton / Holst Singers / Stephen Layton.( Hyperion CDA66825).

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211718

Sweet was the song (William Ballet's Lute Book) (contr, SSAA)

13 January 1931. Revised for publication in 1966: see 'Related works'.

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Catherine Wyn-Rogers / Susan Gritton / Holst Singers / Stephen Layton. ( Hyperion CDA66825).

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212718

Preparations (Churst Church ms.) (SATB, SATB)

11 March 1931

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Catherine Wyn-Rogers / Susan Gritton / Holst Singers / Stephen Layton. ( Hyperion CDA66825).

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213718

New prince, new pomp (Scriptures and Robert Southwell) (sop, SATB)

25 February 1931

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Catherine Wyn-Rogers / Susan Gritton / Holst Singers / Stephen Layton. ( Hyperion CDA66825).

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214718

Carol of King Cnut (C.W. Stubbs) (SSAATTBB)

18 February 1931, revised 25 February.

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Catherine Wyn-Rogers / Susan Gritton / Holst Singers / Stephen Layton. ( Hyperion CDA66825).

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107717180BBM/thy_kings_birthday0

Thy King's birthday

107711ms-sourcesManuscript SourcesThy King's birthdayFor soprano, contralto and chorusBBM/thy_kings_birthday13 Jan-26 Mar 1931

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]

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Holographs

107810ms-sourcesManuscript SourcesHolographsBBM/thy_kings_birthday/113 Jan-26 Mar 19316 items10781078BBM/thy_kings_birthday/1107917182BBM/thy_kings_birthday/1/10

Composition draft

107910ms-sourcesManuscript SourcesComposition draftSweet was the song onlyBBM/thy_kings_birthday/1/113 Jan 1931

Draft with date and signature.

1 manuscript; 2 pages [1r-2r]

Pencil; 23.7 x 31 cm. Paper manufacturer = The B.F.Wood Music Co.

10791079BBM/thy_kings_birthday/1/1108017183BBM/thy_kings_birthday/1/20

Fair copy

108010ms-sourcesManuscript SourcesFair copySweet was the song onlyBBM/thy_kings_birthday/1/217 Jan 1931

Draft with dates and signatures. Britten has added the instruction 'CHORUS SEATED' under the first three bars on the first soprano part.

1 manuscript; 2 pages [1r-2v]

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'.

10801080BBM/thy_kings_birthday/1/2108117184BBM/thy_kings_birthday/1/30

Composition draft

108110ms-sourcesManuscript SourcesComposition draftChrist's Nativity, Preparations, New Prince, New Pomp and The carol of King cnut only.BBM/thy_kings_birthday/1/316 Feb-11 Mar 1931

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].

11 pages of 12 page manuscript[1r-11r]

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]'.

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Discarded draft material

108210ms-sourcesManuscript SourcesDiscarded draft materialBBM/thy_kings_birthday/1/416 Feb-11 Mar 1931

Material discarded from BBM/thy_kings_birthday/1/3.

1 manuscript; 6 pages [1r-6r]

Pencil; 26.2 x 35.5 cm. Paper manufacturer = A L.

10821082BBM/thy_kings_birthday/1/4108317186BBM/thy_kings_birthday/1/50

Fair copy

108310ms-sourcesManuscript SourcesFair copyCarol of King Cnut onlyBBM/thy_kings_birthday/1/525 Feb 1931

Fair copy with dates and signatures. A number of annotated passages have been pasted on at various parts of the score.

1 manuscript; 2 pages [1r-2v]

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'.

10831083BBM/thy_kings_birthday/1/5108417187BBM/thy_kings_birthday/1/60

Fair copy

108410ms-sourcesManuscript SourcesFair copyCompleteBBM/thy_kings_birthday/1/626 Mar 1931

Annotated fair copy with date and signatures.

1 manuscript; 14 pages [1r-14r]

Black ink and pencil; 26.3 x 35.7 cm. Paper manufacturer = A L.

10841084BBM/thy_kings_birthday/1/6814193019311130000000704858815193019313260000000704931271801100Concert performance14 Jun 1991861St Edmund's Church, Southwold, Aldeburgh Festival

Alison Barlow sop, Adrienne Murray mez, Britten Singers, Stephen Wilkinson cond

0861193019327180000000705408471800000Concert performance24 Jun 1955862No. 4: Aldeburgh Parish Church, Aldeburgh Festival.

Rosamund Strode sop, Purcell Singers, Imogen Holst cond.

086219301932990000000705459716BTC713713BBM/o_lord_forsake_me_notO LORD FORSAKE ME NOTFor double SATB chorus1Choral (unaccompanied)31 Jan 193181210 Feb 1931813 Psalm 38:21-22, Psalm 39:13, Psalm 116:7-8 and Psalm 28:710193131 Jan - 10 Feb 1931636BTC715715BBM/Beethoven_RondoBeethoven: Rondo a capriccio, op. 129Arranged for violin, viola and piano1Arrangement7 Apr 19317099 Apr 1931621

Date derived from Britten's diary.

An arrangement of Beethoven's piano piece.

0019317 - 9 Apr 19311152BTC714.17141BBM/sweetsongSweet was the songCarol for women's voices (SSAA) unaccompanied1Choral (unaccompanied)High voicesApr 19661470William Ballet's lute book3001966Apr 1966