Benjamin Britten: 'Serenade' for tenor, horn and strings, op. 31

This material is held atBritish Library Music Collections

  • Reference
    • GB 2027 Add MS 60599
  • Alternative Id.
      (ark) ark:/81055/vdc_100000000393.0x0000e5
  • Dates of Creation
    • 1943
  • Language of Material
    • English
  • Physical Description
    • 1 volume (15 folios)

Scope and Content

Short score. Autograph music manuscript, in pencil, with some revision of song titles in red crayon. The 'Prologue' and 'Epilogue' are not included.

Title page (f. 1): 'Serenade', in red crayon, written across a draft of the beginning (struck-through) of 'Dirge' (cf. f. 9). The draft continues (not struck-through) onto f. 1v.

'Pastoral' (ff. 2-3), title in red crayon. Words, Charles Cotton. A previous title ('Nocturne', in pencil) has been struck-through. Folio 3v: untitled rough notation.

'Nocturne' (ff. 4-6v), title in red crayon. Words, Alfred, Lord Tennyson. A previous title ('Ballad', in pencil) has been struck-through. The tenor part is marked 'PP' (for Peter Pears).

'Elegy' (ff. 7-8). Words, William Blake. The tenor part is marked 'PP'.

'Dirge' (ff. 9-10v). Words, Anon. Cf. ff. 1-1v.

'Hymn' (ff. 11-13v). Words, Ben Jonson. The tenor part is marked 'PP'. Dated 'April 2nd 1943' (f. 13v).

'Sonnet' (ff. 14-15). Words, John Keats. The tenor part is marked 'PP'. Initialled and dated: 'Snape / March 21st 1943 / BB' (f. 15).

First performance: 15 October 1943, Wigmore Hall, London.

Access Information

Restrictions to access apply please consult British Library staff

Not Public Record(s)

Alternative Form Available

Digitised copy available on British Library Digitised Manuscripts: http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?ref=Add_MS_60599

Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements

Folio dimensions: 363 x 265 mm.