Spring Symphony
Encyclopedia
The Spring Symphony is Benjamin Britten
's Opus
44. It is dedicated to Serge Koussevitzky
and the Boston Symphony Orchestra
. It was premiered in the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam on Thursday 14 July 1949 (not 9 July which is quoted by many sources) as part of the Holland Festival
, when the composer was 35. At the premiere the tenor soloist was Peter Pears, the soprano Jo Vincent and the contralto Kathleen Ferrier. The conductor was Eduard van Beinum. A recording of the performance survives and was first issued by Decca in August 1994.
The Spring Symphony is a choral symphony
, written for soprano
, alto
and tenor
solo
ists, mixed chorus
, boys' choir (often performed by a children's choir instead) and orchestra
. Britten sets several poets' words, chiefly from the 16th and 17th century such as Edmund Spenser
, John Clare
and George Peele
. A notable exception is 'Out on the lawn I lie in bed' by his friend W. H. Auden
.
In the composer's own words, the work represents 'the progress of Winter to Spring and the reawakening of the earth and life which that means'.
. The second part has several solos and quiet choruses and references to the month of May. The third part looks forward to May and then to summer. The Finale, London
, to Thee I do Present, is most notable: this comes to a climax when the entire chorus joins in a wordless, full-throated "Ah!" (since words appear to be no longer sufficient!) representing the May revellers fortified by wine
and ale
(borne out by some rather unexpected modulation
s). The crowning glory of the work is the enthralling moment when the children’s voices re-enter the scene and sing the 13th century round Sumer is icumen in
. The ultimate triumph of this simple tune, sung in 2/4 time over the unyielding 3/4 waltz of the rest of the ensemble, appears just. Eventually the celebrations subside, and the Maylord then offers a final blessing with one last self-absorbed proclamation: "And so, my friends, I cease."
Benjamin Britten
Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten, OM CH was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He showed talent from an early age, and first came to public attention with the a cappella choral work A Boy Was Born in 1934. With the premiere of his opera Peter Grimes in 1945, he leapt to...
's Opus
Opus number
An Opus number , pl. opera and opuses, abbreviated, sing. Op. and pl. Opp. refers to a number generally assigned by composers to an individual composition or set of compositions on publication, to help identify their works...
44. It is dedicated to Serge Koussevitzky
Serge Koussevitzky
Serge Koussevitzky , was a Russian-born Jewish conductor, composer and double-bassist, known for his long tenure as music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1924 to 1949.-Early career:...
and the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Boston Symphony Orchestra
The Boston Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1881, the BSO plays most of its concerts at Boston's Symphony Hall and in the summer performs at the Tanglewood Music Center...
. It was premiered in the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam on Thursday 14 July 1949 (not 9 July which is quoted by many sources) as part of the Holland Festival
Holland Festival
The Holland Festival is The Netherlands' oldest and largest performing arts festival, and takes place every June in Amsterdam. It comprises theater, music, opera and modern dance. In recent years, multimedia, visual arts, film and architecture were added to the festival roster...
, when the composer was 35. At the premiere the tenor soloist was Peter Pears, the soprano Jo Vincent and the contralto Kathleen Ferrier. The conductor was Eduard van Beinum. A recording of the performance survives and was first issued by Decca in August 1994.
The Spring Symphony is a choral symphony
Choral symphony
A choral symphony is a musical composition for orchestra, choir, sometimes with solo vocalists, which in its internal workings and overall musical architecture adheres broadly to symphonic musical form. The term "choral symphony" in this context was coined by Hector Berlioz when describing his...
, written for soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
, alto
Alto
Alto is a musical term, derived from the Latin word altus, meaning "high" in Italian, that has several possible interpretations.When designating instruments, "alto" frequently refers to a member of an instrumental family that has the second highest range, below that of the treble or soprano. Hence,...
and tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
ists, mixed chorus
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
, boys' choir (often performed by a children's choir instead) and orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
. Britten sets several poets' words, chiefly from the 16th and 17th century such as Edmund Spenser
Edmund Spenser
Edmund Spenser was an English poet best known for The Faerie Queene, an epic poem and fantastical allegory celebrating the Tudor dynasty and Elizabeth I. He is recognised as one of the premier craftsmen of Modern English verse in its infancy, and one of the greatest poets in the English...
, John Clare
John Clare
John Clare was an English poet, born the son of a farm labourer who came to be known for his celebratory representations of the English countryside and his lamentation of its disruption. His poetry underwent a major re-evaluation in the late 20th century and he is often now considered to be among...
and George Peele
George Peele
George Peele , was an English dramatist.-Life:Peele was christened on 25 July 1556. His father, who appears to have belonged to a Devonshire family, was clerk of Christ's Hospital, and wrote two treatises on bookkeeping...
. A notable exception is 'Out on the lawn I lie in bed' by his friend W. H. Auden
W. H. Auden
Wystan Hugh Auden , who published as W. H. Auden, was an Anglo-American poet,The first definition of "Anglo-American" in the OED is: "Of, belonging to, or involving both England and America." See also the definition "English in origin or birth, American by settlement or citizenship" in See also...
.
In the composer's own words, the work represents 'the progress of Winter to Spring and the reawakening of the earth and life which that means'.
Structure
The Spring Symphony is made up of four parts, which correspond to the movements of a conventional symphony: Allegro with slow introduction, slow movement, scherzo, and finale. Part I begins with the dark and mysterious Shine Out, a poem to the sun. Several more songs follow until The Driving Boy, which is a piece that features the boys' choir, at times whistling, and tambourineTambourine
The tambourine or marine is a musical instrument of the percussion family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called "zils". Classically the term tambourine denotes an instrument with a drumhead, though some variants may not have a head at all....
. The second part has several solos and quiet choruses and references to the month of May. The third part looks forward to May and then to summer. The Finale, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, to Thee I do Present, is most notable: this comes to a climax when the entire chorus joins in a wordless, full-throated "Ah!" (since words appear to be no longer sufficient!) representing the May revellers fortified by wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
and ale
Ale
Ale is a type of beer brewed from malted barley using a warm fermentation with a strain of brewers' yeast. The yeast will ferment the beer quickly, giving it a sweet, full bodied and fruity taste...
(borne out by some rather unexpected modulation
Modulation (music)
In music, modulation is most commonly the act or process of changing from one key to another. This may or may not be accompanied by a change in key signature. Modulations articulate or create the structure or form of many pieces, as well as add interest...
s). The crowning glory of the work is the enthralling moment when the children’s voices re-enter the scene and sing the 13th century round Sumer is icumen in
Sumer Is Icumen In
"Sumer Is Icumen In" is a traditional English round, and possibly the oldest such example of counterpoint in existence. The title might be translated as "Summer has come in" or "Summer has arrived"....
. The ultimate triumph of this simple tune, sung in 2/4 time over the unyielding 3/4 waltz of the rest of the ensemble, appears just. Eventually the celebrations subside, and the Maylord then offers a final blessing with one last self-absorbed proclamation: "And so, my friends, I cease."
Part 1
- 1. Introduction: Shine Out (Anonymous) (mixed chorus)
- 2. The Merry Cuckoo (Edmund SpenserEdmund SpenserEdmund Spenser was an English poet best known for The Faerie Queene, an epic poem and fantastical allegory celebrating the Tudor dynasty and Elizabeth I. He is recognised as one of the premier craftsmen of Modern English verse in its infancy, and one of the greatest poets in the English...
) (tenor solo) - 3. Spring, the Sweet Spring (Thomas NasheThomas NasheThomas Nashe was an English Elizabethan pamphleteer, playwright, poet and satirist. He was the son of the minister William Nashe and his wife Margaret .-Early life:...
) (soprano, alto and tenor soli, mixed chorus) - 4. The Driving Boy (George PeeleGeorge PeeleGeorge Peele , was an English dramatist.-Life:Peele was christened on 25 July 1556. His father, who appears to have belonged to a Devonshire family, was clerk of Christ's Hospital, and wrote two treatises on bookkeeping...
, John ClareJohn ClareJohn Clare was an English poet, born the son of a farm labourer who came to be known for his celebratory representations of the English countryside and his lamentation of its disruption. His poetry underwent a major re-evaluation in the late 20th century and he is often now considered to be among...
) (soprano solo and boys' choir) - 5. The Morning Star (John MiltonJohn MiltonJohn Milton was an English poet, polemicist, a scholarly man of letters, and a civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell...
) (mixed chorus)
Part 2
- 6. Welcome, Maids of Honour (Robert HerrickRobert HerrickRobert Herrick may refer to:* Robert Herrick , American novelist* Robert Herrick , English poet...
) (alto solo) - 7. Waters Above! (Henry VaughanHenry VaughanHenry Vaughan was a Welsh physician and metaphysical poet.Vaughan and his twin brother the hermetic philosopher and alchemist Thomas Vaughan, were the sons of Thomas Vaughan and his wife Denise of 'Trenewydd', Newton, in Brecknockshire, Wales...
) (tenor solo) - 8. Out on the lawn I Lie in bed (W. H. AudenW. H. AudenWystan Hugh Auden , who published as W. H. Auden, was an Anglo-American poet,The first definition of "Anglo-American" in the OED is: "Of, belonging to, or involving both England and America." See also the definition "English in origin or birth, American by settlement or citizenship" in See also...
) (alto solo and mixed chorus)
Part 3
- 9. When will my May Come? (Richard BarnfieldRichard BarnfieldRichard Barnfield , English poet, was born at Norbury, Staffordshire, and brought up in Newport, Shropshire.He was baptized on 13 June 1574, the son of Richard Barnfield, gentleman. His obscure though close relationship with Shakespeare has long made him interesting to scholars...
) (tenor solo) - 10. Fair and Fair (Peele) (soprano and tenor soli)
- 11. Sound the Flute! (William BlakeWilliam BlakeWilliam Blake was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of both the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age...
) (male chorus, female chorus and boys' choir)
Part 4
- 12. Finale: London, to Thee I do Present (Anon, closing words Beaumont and Fletcher) (soprano, alto and tenor soli, mixed chorus and boys' choir)