The Latin text by Patrick Wilkinson recounts the Biblical parable of the Good Samaritan.[1] Because the work was to be premiered at an international event, Britten felt that Latin would be the most appropriate language. He had originally intended to use either the Biblical text or a medieval adaptation, but the International Committee of the Red Cross objected that explicitly religious text would be inappropriate to celebrate an organization with a firm nonsectarian stance.[1] To resolve this issue, Britten approached Wilkinson, a Latin professor at Cambridge University, to create a libretto for the work. The resulting text is "somewhat 'academic' and lacking in obviously expressive poetic qualities" but is notable for its "recondite, elegant, Classical Latin diction".[1]
The work is in a single movement with "a highly unified structure built up out of short interlinked sections". Its tonality is largely F-sharp major, but with a D in the bass.[3]
Analysisedit
Eric Roseberry describes this piece as "yet another minor masterpiece in which once more [Britten's] skill and science as a composer objectify his unique poetic sensibility".[3]
Dean Jobin-Bevans suggests that Britten's compositional style provides for two potential interpretations of the work: pacifist, as with Britten's earlier War Requiem, and queer-positive.[5]
Referencesedit
^ abcdBloch, Gregory. "Benjamin Britten Cantata misericordium". Emmanuel Music. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
^. Monika Wolf. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
^ abcRoseberry, Eric (1963). "Britten's 'Cantata Misericordium' and 'Psalm 150'". Tempo (66/67): 40–47. doi:10.1017/S004029820003638X.
^Jobin-Bevans, Dean (2007). "Merging Perspectives: The Open-ended Nature of Brittens Parable Art and the Cantata Misericordium Op. 69". The Phenomenon of Singing. 6.
April 13, 2024
cantata, misericordium, 1963, musical, composition, british, composer, benjamin, britten, single, movement, based, parable, good, samaritan, with, latin, text, patrick, wilkinson, composed, centenary, cross, scored, solo, tenor, baritone, satb, choir, string, . Cantata misericordium op 69 is a 1963 musical composition by British composer Benjamin Britten Its single movement is based on the parable of the Good Samaritan with a Latin text by Patrick Wilkinson and was composed for the centenary of the Red Cross It is scored for solo tenor and baritone SATB choir string quartet string orchestra piano harp and timpani Cantata misericordium Op 69by Benjamin Britten Contents 1 History and text 2 Composition 3 Analysis 4 ReferencesHistory and text editThis cantata was composed in 1963 for the centenary of the Red Cross 1 The Latin text by Patrick Wilkinson recounts the Biblical parable of the Good Samaritan 1 Because the work was to be premiered at an international event Britten felt that Latin would be the most appropriate language He had originally intended to use either the Biblical text or a medieval adaptation but the International Committee of the Red Cross objected that explicitly religious text would be inappropriate to celebrate an organization with a firm nonsectarian stance 1 To resolve this issue Britten approached Wilkinson a Latin professor at Cambridge University to create a libretto for the work The resulting text is somewhat academic and lacking in obviously expressive poetic qualities but is notable for its recondite elegant Classical Latin diction 1 The work was premiered in Geneva on 1 September 1963 by soloists Peter Pears and Dietrich Fischer Dieskau with the Motet de Geneve and the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande conducted by Ernest Ansermet 2 It was performed again at The Proms later that month conducted by Britten himself 3 Composition editCantata misericordium is scored for solo tenor and baritone SATB choir string quartet string orchestra piano harp and timpani 4 The work is in a single movement with a highly unified structure built up out of short interlinked sections Its tonality is largely F sharp major but with a D in the bass 3 Analysis editEric Roseberry describes this piece as yet another minor masterpiece in which once more Britten s skill and science as a composer objectify his unique poetic sensibility 3 Dean Jobin Bevans suggests that Britten s compositional style provides for two potential interpretations of the work pacifist as with Britten s earlier War Requiem and queer positive 5 References edit a b c d Bloch Gregory Benjamin Britten Cantata misericordium Emmanuel Music Retrieved 6 August 2015 Dietrich Fischer Dieskau Urauffuhrungen Monika Wolf Archived from the original on 1 November 2020 Retrieved 6 August 2015 a b c Roseberry Eric 1963 Britten s Cantata Misericordium and Psalm 150 Tempo 66 67 40 47 doi 10 1017 S004029820003638X Cantata Misericordium Britten Thematic Catalogue Britten Pears Foundation 2012 Jobin Bevans Dean 2007 Merging Perspectives The Open ended Nature of Brittens Parable Art and the Cantata Misericordium Op 69 The Phenomenon of Singing 6 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cantata misericordium amp oldid 1211216798, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
