Synopses & Reviews
The book examines from various viewpoints Britten's War Requiem, written in 1962 to celebrate the consecration of the new Coventry Cathedral and uniting the famous anti-war poetry of Wilfred Owen with the Latin Requiem Mass. Britten's and Owen's pacifist beliefs are compared, and the chronology of the compositional process unraveled from documentary and manuscript sources. The musical language is analyzed in detail, and the fluctuating critical responses to the score are assessed.
Synopsis
An illuminating study of Britten's War Requiem, examining the composer's treatment of the anti-war poetry of Wilfred Owen.
Synopsis
Widely regarded as one of the greatest choral works of the twentieth century, Britten's War Requiem was first performed at the consecration of Coventry's new cathedral in 1962. This handbook examines Britten's use of the anti-war poetry of Wilfred Owen and contains hitherto unpublished correspondence and manuscript sources.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 109-110) and index.
Table of Contents
1. Owen, Britten and pacifism; 2. The War Requiem in progress Philip Reed; 3. The musical language: idiom and structure; 4. Critical reception; Appendix; Text; Select bibliography; Index.