Britten's Purcell Realizations is a common name for compositions for voice and piano by Benjamin Britten which are arrangements of works by Henry Purcell. Boosey & Hawkes published 45 of them, titled The Purcell Collection – Realizations by Benjamin Britten. A recording of 40 of them, Purcell Songs Realised by Britten, was released in 2016.
In 1945, there was a commemoration of the 250th anniversary of Purcell's death, raising interest in the composer. Britten began that year to arrange songs, duets and a trio by Purcell, writing out—or "realizing"—Purcell's figured bass as an accompaniment for piano, sometimes taking great liberty with the original composition.[1] He chose songs, arias and duets by Purcell, or attributed to him, from Harmonia Sacra, Orpheus Britannicus, The Queen's Epicedium, Dido and Aeneas and The Fairy Queen.[2]
The Britten-Pears Foundation acquired a manuscript of one of the realizations in 2019, a version of The Blessed Virgin's Expostulation which Britten wrote for a concert at Wigmore Hall in 1945. The text, by Nahum Tate, is of Mary's distress when she discovers that her 12-year-old son is missing. It was sung by Margaret Ritchie, to whom the setting is dedicated.[3]
Boosey & Hawkes published 45 of Britten's settings in a volume titled The Purcell Collection – Realizations by Benjamin Britten.[2]
Another "complete set", called Purcell Songs Realised by Britten, was recorded in 2016 with singers Robin Blaze, Allan Clayton, Anna Grevelius, Ruby Hughes, Benedict Nelson and Matthew Rose, and pianist Joseph Middleton.[4]
Referencesedit
^ abTrendel, David (1995). "Purcell Songs Realised by Britten". Hyperion Records. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
^ ab"The Purcell Collection – Realizations by Benjamin Britten / 45 Songs". Britten-Pears Foundation. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
^. brittenpears.org. 11 April 2019. Archived from the original on 7 August 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
^Fairman, Richard (June 2016). "Purcell Songs Realised by Britten". Gramophone. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
External linksedit
Blaine Gregory Hendsbee: The Britten-Purcell realisations : connecting the past to the present through the voice of Peter Pears open.library.ubc 2007
Purcell + Britten = ? goodmorningbritten.wordpress.com 23 August 2013
Britten - Purcell Realizations prestomusic.com
December 15, 2023
britten, purcell, realizations, common, name, compositions, voice, piano, benjamin, britten, which, arrangements, works, henry, purcell, boosey, hawkes, published, them, titled, purcell, collection, realizations, benjamin, britten, recording, them, purcell, so. Britten s Purcell Realizations is a common name for compositions for voice and piano by Benjamin Britten which are arrangements of works by Henry Purcell Boosey amp Hawkes published 45 of them titled The Purcell Collection Realizations by Benjamin Britten A recording of 40 of them Purcell Songs Realised by Britten was released in 2016 Britten s Purcell RealizationsSongs by Benjamin BrittenOther namePurcell Songs Realised by BrittenBased onCompositions by Henry PurcellComposed1945 1945 and laterScoringvoicepiano Contents 1 History 2 Recordings 3 References 4 External linksHistory editIn 1945 there was a commemoration of the 250th anniversary of Purcell s death raising interest in the composer Britten began that year to arrange songs duets and a trio by Purcell writing out or realizing Purcell s figured bass as an accompaniment for piano sometimes taking great liberty with the original composition 1 He chose songs arias and duets by Purcell or attributed to him from Harmonia Sacra Orpheus Britannicus The Queen s Epicedium Dido and Aeneas and The Fairy Queen 2 The Britten Pears Foundation acquired a manuscript of one of the realizations in 2019 a version of The Blessed Virgin s Expostulation which Britten wrote for a concert at Wigmore Hall in 1945 The text by Nahum Tate is of Mary s distress when she discovers that her 12 year old son is missing It was sung by Margaret Ritchie to whom the setting is dedicated 3 Boosey amp Hawkes published 45 of Britten s settings in a volume titled The Purcell Collection Realizations by Benjamin Britten 2 Recordings editRecordings have been dedicated to selections from the realizations The complete set 40 songs was recorded in 1995 with nine singers John Mark Ainsley Ian Bostridge James Bowman Susan Gritton Richard Jackson Anthony Rolfe Johnson Simon Keenlyside Felicity Lott and Sarah Walker and pianist Graham Johnson 1 Another complete set called Purcell Songs Realised by Britten was recorded in 2016 with singers Robin Blaze Allan Clayton Anna Grevelius Ruby Hughes Benedict Nelson and Matthew Rose and pianist Joseph Middleton 4 References edit a b Trendel David 1995 Purcell Songs Realised by Britten Hyperion Records Retrieved 7 August 2019 a b The Purcell Collection Realizations by Benjamin Britten 45 Songs Britten Pears Foundation Retrieved 16 December 2013 Foundation acquire Britten manuscript brittenpears org 11 April 2019 Archived from the original on 7 August 2019 Retrieved 7 August 2019 Fairman Richard June 2016 Purcell Songs Realised by Britten Gramophone Retrieved 7 August 2019 External links editBlaine Gregory Hendsbee The Britten Purcell realisations connecting the past to the present through the voice of Peter Pears open library ubc 2007 Purcell Britten goodmorningbritten wordpress com 23 August 2013 Britten Purcell Realizations prestomusic com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Britten 27s Purcell Realizations amp oldid 1182254472, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
