Composer

:

Benjamin Britten

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song: Art Song

Compose Date

:

1947

Average_duration

:

7:08

Benjamin Britten's 'Canticle I: My Beloved Is Mine, Op. 40' is a song cycle for high voice and piano, composed in 1947. The piece was premiered on 12th June 1947 at the Wigmore Hall in London, with Britten himself at the piano and Peter Pears as the vocalist. The cycle consists of three movements, each of which sets a different text. The first movement, 'My Beloved Is Mine', is a setting of a poem by Francis Quarles. The second movement, 'The Prophet', sets a text by Isaac Watts, and the final movement, 'Journey of the Magi', is a setting of a poem by T.S. Eliot. The first movement is characterized by its gentle, flowing melody and simple, yet effective piano accompaniment. The vocal line is expressive and lyrical, with a sense of intimacy and tenderness. The second movement is more dramatic and intense, with a more complex piano accompaniment and a vocal line that is more declamatory and forceful. The final movement is the most complex of the three, with a more intricate piano part and a vocal line that is both lyrical and dramatic. Overall, 'Canticle I: My Beloved Is Mine, Op. 40' is a beautiful and moving work that showcases Britten's skill as a composer of vocal music. The cycle is notable for its expressive melodies, sensitive piano accompaniment, and the emotional depth of its texts. It remains a popular work in the repertoire of high voice and piano music.

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