Composer

:

Benjamin Britten

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Hymn

Compose Date

:

1974

Average_duration

:

7:41

Benjamin Britten's 'Canticle V: The Death of St Narcissus, Op. 89' is a song cycle for tenor, horn, and piano. It was composed in 1974 and premiered on 10th July 1974 at the Aldeburgh Festival, with Peter Pears as the tenor, Dennis Brain as the horn player, and Britten himself on the piano. The song cycle consists of three movements, each of which is based on a poem by T.S. Eliot. The first movement, 'The Elected Silence', is a setting of Eliot's poem of the same name. It is a haunting and introspective piece, with the tenor singing of the silence that surrounds the death of St Narcissus. The second movement, 'Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking', is a setting of Eliot's poem of the same name. It is a more energetic and dynamic piece, with the tenor singing of the sea and the birds that surround St Narcissus as he dies. The final movement, 'The Death of St Narcissus', is a setting of Eliot's poem of the same name. It is a somber and mournful piece, with the tenor singing of the death of St Narcissus and the silence that follows. The characteristics of 'Canticle V: The Death of St Narcissus, Op. 89' are typical of Britten's style. The music is lyrical and expressive, with a strong emphasis on melody and harmony. The horn and piano parts are particularly prominent, with the horn often providing a mournful counterpoint to the tenor's voice. Overall, 'Canticle V: The Death of St Narcissus, Op. 89' is a powerful and moving work that showcases Britten's skill as a composer. Its haunting melodies and introspective lyrics make it a fitting tribute to the life and death of St Narcissus.

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