Learning your voice part soprano, alto, tenor, bass in britten s rejoice in the lamb does require you to dedicate some time to ensure you know the notes you are singing so you will sing with confidence and really enjoy fully contributing to your choir. Saint nicolas rejoice in the lamb by benjamin britten, aldeburgh. It is based on extracts from the poem jubilate agno 1 by christopher smart. The main theme of the poem, and that of the cantata, is the worship of god by all created beings and things, each in its own way.
There is an excellent performance of this work by kings college choir, under david willcocks, on youtube starting here here is a clickable table of the available midi files for this work. Learning to perform benjamin brittens rejoice in the lamb. This video is from the spring semester of my sophomore year. Print and download in pdf or midi rejoice in the lamb benjamin britten. Rejoice in the lamb was written in 1943 shortly after benjamin britten s 19 1976 return to great britain following a threeyear stay in america. The four pieces here span the years from 19331949 of benjamin britten s working years. Recorded sound isnt as vivid as the performances, but this remains a very likeable disc. Saint nicolas rejoice in the lamb by benjamin britten, aldeburgh festival orchestra, peter pears, aldeburgh festival choir, george malcolm, the purcell singers from amazons classical music store. The missa brevis makes inventive use of its forces. Imogen holsts orchestration of rejoice in the lamb was made, at brittens request, for a concert given at the 1952 aldeburgh festival. In 1945, britten chose a poem of the 18thcentury poet christopher smart for a commissioned work to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of st. Benjamin britten rejoice in the lamb san francisco choral. The choir of kings college, cambridge under conductor stephen cleobury presents britten s enchanting choral masterpiece, saint nicolas, with hymn to st cecilia and rejoice in the lamb, celebrating 100 years since benjamin britten s birth.
Rejoice in the lamb choral music of benjamin britten by st. Britten was born in lowestoft in suffolk, the son of a dentist and a talented amateur musician. When youre feeling lost in the night, when you feel your world just aint. Johns college, cambridgedecca and with mixed voices the sixteencollins. A wonderful mix of britten s finest smaller vocal pieces. When youre feeling lost in the night, when you feel your world just aint right call on me, i will be waiting count on me, i will be there. Benjamin britten rejoice in the lamb san francisco. Help us with donations or by making music available. Rejoice in the lamb sheet music download free in pdf or.
The piece was first performed on september 21, 1943. Benjamin britten jubilate deo in c satb rejoice in the lamb. There is an excellent performance of this work by kings college choir, under david willcocks, on youtube starting here. Rejoice in the lamb, missa brevis and other choral works classical music album play streams in full or download mp3 from classical archives, the largest and best organized classical music site on the web. During smarts seven years in a madhouse, beginning in 1756, he wrote the poem jubilate agno rejoice in the lamb, which did not come to public.
Benjamin britten was a british composer, conductor, and pianist. The accompaniment demands were modest, requiring at most an organ to support the choir and to add a touch of color to the music. Missa brevis, an album by benjamin britten, choir of st. Yesterday, november 22, would have been his 101st birthday. Matthews church, northampton, by its vicar, matthew hussey. Johns college, cambridge, marisa robles, brian runnett, george guest on spotify we and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. Benjamin britten wrote the remarkable cantata rejoice in the lamb, op. Choir of kings college, james crookes, benjamin britten, rachel masters, michael 2 pearce, thomas rose, peter winn, marcus body, rupert johnston, john. Rejoice in the lamb notes on todays performance rejoice in the lamb is a cantata for organ, choir, and soloists by benjamin britten with text by christopher smart. David corkhill percussion, osian ellis harp, james lancelot organ, james bowman countertenor, simon channing soprano, richard morton tenor, marcus creed bass, rory phillips soprano, choir of kings college cambridge, philip ledger. This work was preceded by the composition of two of britten s most. Rejoice in the lamb was written in 1943 shortly after benjamin brittens 19 1976 return to great britain following a threeyear stay in america. Feb 01, 2016 from david grogans faculty recital at ut arlington, january 28, 2016. Buy a cd or vinyl record and get 90 days free amazon music unlimited.
One of britten s most popular and performed works in this genre, rejoice in the lamb was written for the 50th anniversary of st. During smarts seven years in a madhouse, beginning in 1756, he wrote the poem jubliate agno rejoice in the lamb, which did not come to public attention until nearly 200 years later. It was commissioned for the 50th anniversary of st. The text is based on christopher smarts poem jubilate agno, written while. We could spend the rest of the day talking about either smart or his poem, but the one biographical tidbit i. Benjamin britten was one of the most remarkable british classical musicians of the 20th century. Here is a clickable table of the available midi files for this work. The remarkable vicar, walter hussey, was a great patron of the arts. Get instant updates on new titles and latest choral news for choristers and conductors.
Although the cantata is technically one of britten s occasional works, meaning that the piece was composed for some sort of event, it is an important step in his journey to compositional maturity. On sale through our online shop orders will be despatched by mail from our online shop. Rejoice in the lamb music by benjamin britten 191976 words by christopher smart 17221771 about the music. Given a piece of music, it is interesting to count how many times each of the individual twelve musical notes is played, and understand their relative weight, or importance, in the piece. Rejoice in the lamb has truly moving segments, animated by the fact that the poet whom britten puts to music. Choral, chorus, organ accompaniment sheet music book by benjamin britten 191976.
Walter hussey provided the following note on the work. Rejoice in the lamb, op 30 britten from sigcd225 hyperion. The poem, written while smart was in an asylum depicts idiosyncratic praise and worship of god by all created beings and things, each in its own way. This page lists all recordings of rejoice in the lamb, op. Each voice part is available for immediate download or mailed to you in cd format. This work was preceded by the composition of two of britten s most popular and substantial choral compositions, the. Check out rejoice in the lamb choral music of benjamin britten by st. In rejoice in the lamb, britten sets selected excerpts of a 1200line poem by the 18thcentury poet, christopher smart. Members get access to our extensive library of rehearsal tracks. Benjamin britten rejoice in the lamb program notes the peculiar potency of his vocal music seems often to derive from his ability to convey to his listeners the unexplored area of a text which was always there but which needed revelation through his imaginative vision. It was commissioned by the former vicar, the very reverend walter hussey. Cecilias day, a happy augury for the career of one of britains greatest composers. It is a few of the finest passages that benjamin britten has chosen to set to music. His birthday, 22 november, is the feastday of saint cecilia, the patron saint of music, and he showed musical gifts very early in life.
David hill conducts iain farrington organ and the bbc singers in a performance of britten s rejoice in the lamb recorded live at st. Britten s rejoice in the lamb, or festival cantata, was written for the 50th anniversary of the consecration of st. Rejoice in the lamb was brought to the attention of benjamin britten in the late thirties, soon after this longlost work had been rediscovered and published for the first time. One of brittens most popular and performed works in this genre, rejoice in the lamb was written for the 50th anniversary of st. A boy was born stephen cleobury, kings college choir of cambridge on allmusic 1991. Files made originally using midiplay benjamin britten rejoice in the lamb. Decca celebrates 100 years since the birth of englands greatest 20th century composer, benjamin britten, with a unique limited edition 65cd box containing his entire canon of works. Rejoice in the lamb benjamin britten is available at choral tracks. Festival cantata for chorus satb with treble, alto, tenor and bass solos and. Order from your preferred classical music cd store arkivmusic. This is one of my conducting exams for techniques of conducting at westminster choir college. The text of jubilate agno is the source for rejoice in the lamb, a festival cantata composed by benjamin britten in 1943 for four soloists, a soprano, alto, tenor and bass choir, and organ. Britten loved it and set the words as a cantata which shows clearly his admiration for the work of british baroque composer henry purcell.
Gramophone, may 1958 rejoice in the lamb more than anything this is a work of joy, and how remarkable it is that any musician can reflect the world of today britten is no escapist in such terms of optimism the chorus is splendidly incisive under george malcolms direction, and the soloists are admirable in every way. May 26, 2003 rejoice in the lamb 1943 is a work for a small fourpart choir, four soloists, and pipe organ by benjamin britten. Soprano rejoice in god, o ye tongues let nimrod, the mighty hunter hallelujah for i am under the same accusation and therefore he is god alto rejoice in god, o ye tongues let nimrod, the mighty hunter hallelujah for i am under. Most all singleparts cds are recorded in boston at the soundmirror studios, which are acclaimed for producing the highest caliber of recordings with their stateoftheart equipment, and have earned more than 45 grammy nominations and awards in the process. Singleparts study discs for the messiah contain all the choral sections, one disc for each voice part. The choir of trinity college, cambridge, richard marlow. Edward benjamin britten, born 19, lowestoft, suffolk, eng. Rejoice in the lamb festival cantata opus 30 benjamin britten britten composed rejoice in the lamb for the revd walter hussey and the choir of st matthews church, northampton, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the consecration of their church in september 1943. Britten movingly encapsulates the poems halfmad and delightfully religious spirit.
Simon channing boy soprano, james bowman countertenor, richard morton tenor, marcus creed bass, james lancelot organ. Britten and decca enjoyed a unique relationship with the composer recording most of his key works for the label. Benjamin brittens cantata rejoice in the lamb has been very well served on recordings, both in performances with men and boys st. Benjamin britten s festival cantata rejoice in the lamb 1943, written for chorus and organ, is regarded as one of his most interesting compositions. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Rejoice in the lamb classical music album play streams in full or download mp3 from classical archives, the largest and best organized classical music site on the web. The buttons below will play sample tracks for the hallelujah chorus. Fancie and rejoice in the lamb free music downloads. This work was preceded by the composition of two of brittens most popular and substantial choral compositions, the.
Nations, and languages, and every creature in which is the breath of life. Rejoice in the lamb was written while smart was in an asylum, and is chaotic in form but contains many flashes of genius. Rejoice in the lamb benjamin britten choral tracks. The ceremony of carols weaves a hypnotic tapestry of medieval harmonies and tonality. Britten saint nicolas download kings college recordings. Mar 08, 2017 performed by the fapc chamber choir during sing joyfully, the 2016 fall concert at fifth avenue presbyterian church in new york city. Master singers choir westminster choir college, princeton nj john frederick hudson, conductor daniel stipe, organist bristol chapel, princeton nj. Click on the button to go to the page where you can download the music. Soprano rejoice in god, o ye tongues let nimrod, the mighty hunter hallelujah for i am under the same accusation. This case study, conducted over a period of five months, chronicled the experiences and perceptions of three students from a large midwestern high school mixed choir as they learned to perform the extended choral composition rejoice in the lamb by benjamin britten.