Composer

:

Benjamin Britten

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1976

Average_duration

:

18:31

Movement_count

:

8

Movement ....

British Folksongs (8) is a collection of eight arrangements of traditional British folk songs composed by Benjamin Britten. The work was composed in 1942 and premiered on June 10, 1943, at the Wigmore Hall in London, with Britten accompanying the singer Peter Pears on piano. The eight movements of the work are: 1. The Plough Boy 2. The Bonny Earl o' Moray 3. Lord Bateman 4. The Trees They Grow So High 5. The Ash Grove 6. Oliver Cromwell 7. The Miller of Dee 8. The Foggy, Foggy Dew Each movement is a setting of a different folk song, with Britten's own unique harmonic and melodic twists. The Plough Boy is a lively and rhythmic tune, while The Bonny Earl o' Moray is a mournful ballad. Lord Bateman is a humorous tale of a man who travels the world in search of a wife, while The Trees They Grow So High is a nostalgic song about the passage of time. The Ash Grove is a gentle and lyrical tune, while Oliver Cromwell is a rousing and patriotic song. The Miller of Dee is a lively and humorous tune about a miller who loves to sing, while The Foggy, Foggy Dew is a haunting and atmospheric ballad. Overall, British Folksongs (8) is a charming and varied collection of traditional British folk songs, arranged with Britten's characteristic skill and sensitivity. The work showcases the beauty and diversity of the British folk music tradition, while also highlighting Britten's own unique musical voice.

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