Brittens correspondence with rostropovich reveals the composers humility in the face of rostropovichs reputation. Suite i bwv 1007 suite ii bwv 1008 suite iii bwv 1009 suite iv bwv 1010 suite v bwv 1011 suite vi bwv 1012. Benjamin britten, however, was just as inspired by the great cellist mstislav rostropovichs rich, romantic playing of the bach suites as by the suites themselves. This thesis takes as its purpose then to examine the circumstantial situations that brought about both the bach and britten cello suites, what this musical form meant to each composer, and. Joining several discs from signum celebrating 20s britten centenary year comes a new collection of the three suites for solo cello, performed by star uk cellist jamie walton. The suites are naturally in a direct line from the baroque collections of dances which, for the cello, culminate in the six suites by j. We are hugely fortunate that it gave rise to brittens being inspired to write extensively for the cello. Any composer who writes a suite for unaccompanied cello takes inspiration from johann sebastian bachs glorious models in some measure. This recording gives permanence to some of the best cello playing i have ever heard.
Recorded in the britten studio at snape maltings, aldeburgh, the three suites were dedicated to mstislav rostropovich, with the passionate third in particular inspired by rostropovichs rich and. After hearing rostropovich perform the six bach cello suites, britten intended to respond with six suites of his own. Recorded in the britten studio at snape maltings, aldeburgh, the three suites were dedicated to mstislav rostropovich, with the passionate third in particular inspired by rostropovichs rich and romantic. Benjamin brittens suites for solo cello have been extensively documented.
These suites were chosen because of the influence of bach, which is seen in the texture of the pieces, and because they can be played on guitar with very few changes. Cello bwv 10071012 2018 en 3 suites for solo cello. Double concerto for violin and cello and orchestra score 1st movement 2nd movement 3rd movement goncharenko, v. Bachs six such works each for both violin and cello. Then you can easily print only the violin part example. Rostropovich was a commanding bach player, and britten s suite is full of the techniques and textures developed in the bach suites. Britten s cello suites are definitely influenced by bachs cello suites, especially with regard to the structure of the works. In the solo suites, where britten emulates bach by giving the cello line such a broad harmonic perspective, gerhardts playing is supple, richly. Apr 15, 2012 in 1964 britten presented rostropovich with the suite for cello op. Innovative use of technique in benjamin brittens cello works. That winter britten began the first of his three suites for unaccompanied cello. The inspiration behind this piece and its fellows was the experience of hearing rostropovich play the unaccompanied suites of bach, which therefore became brittens point of reference.
Joining several albums from signum celebrating 20s britten centenary year comes a new collection of the three suites for solo cello, performed by star uk cellist jamie walton. Notes this is rather difficult but some bass viol players out there will want to try it. Rostropovich premiered it at the 1965 aldeburgh festival. Britten introduced challenging cello techniques in his compositions inspired by mstislav rostropovich. An analytical study of the sonata in c for cello and piano by benjamin britten, written by charles baker. From her notes, it seems to have taken viersen a while to be convinced of their worth. The suites were the first original solo instrumental music that britten wrote for and dedicated to rostropovich, but britten had earlier composed a cadenza for joseph haydns cello concerto in c major, for rostropovich, in 1964.
Britten, however, with his three suites for unaccompanied cello, did exactly this, leaving posterity with one of the finest repertoires for the instrument by any 20thcentury composer. P i do have a few questions for you if its allright. Is it only me or do some of these responses appear as if they are. The first such composition was the sonata in c, followed by the cello symphony heard here, and the three suites for solo cello the first of which is heard here.
Mstislav rostropovich recorded his decca accounts of britten s op. This became brittens first of five major works written for rostropovich over the course of the next decade the others being the cello symphony and the three suites for solo cello. Chords have been adjusted for the conversion from a 4 to a 6 string instrument. His cello muse rostropovich has encouraged britten to explore the dark and textured sounds of the modern cello. Britten s cello symphony was next, and then after hearing rostropovich play the bach solo suites britten. The focus of this project is a transcription of three suites for cello, opp. While brittens contemporaries focused on extremely inventive methods of writing, britten focused on his own renovation of the traditional elements.
Benjamin britten s suites for solo cello have been extensively documented. This recording is dedicated to the late producer paul janse, who recorded quirine viersens bach suites and persuaded her to turn to brittens. Bacha daunting prospect for any composer to emulate, but one which britten, enthused and encouraged by rostropovichs interpretations of these masterpieces, was keen to give his best. Brittens correspondence with rostropovich reveals the composers humility in the. This study focused on benjamin britten s four solo cello works. Britten cello suites by benjamin britten on spotify. As with the three string quartets, it is an interesting exercise to listen to all three of brittens cello suites in succession, charting his development as a composer. The friendship between britten and rostropovich is well documented. As a result, the portion of the discussion of this sonata is limited and the details sketchy. Print and download in pdf or midi britten cello suites no. This large work is in six diverse movements, split into pairs by three canto movements which function like the promenades from mussorgskys pictures at an exhibition always recognisable but appearing in new guises with the development of. This large work is in six diverse movements, split into pairs by three canto movements which function like the promenades from mussorgskys pictures at an exhibition always recognisable but appearing. Rostropovichs natural physical attributes including his large hands, long fingers, and especially his great strength and stamina all contributed to his astounding ability on the cello.
Structural organization in benjamin brittens three suites for solo. A composer setting out to create an extensive multimovement work for a solo string instrument can hardly avoid the influence of j. Brittens cello writing reveals the influence of bach in its skilful suggestion of a harmonic dimension by purely linear means, and in the fugues which appear in all three suites britten even shows himself able to create the illusion of several apparently independent contrapuntal parts by subtle displacements of a single melodic line. We are hugely fortunate that it gave rise to britten s being inspired to write extensively for the cello. Titlestructuralorganization inbenjaminbrittensthreesuitesforsolocello. These suites were chosen because of brittens use of compound melodic notation in which multivoiced textures may be derived from what appears on paper to be a single. The first suite was premiered by rostropovich at the aldeburgh festival on june 27, 1965. This study focused on benjamin brittens four solo cello works.
This project covers the transcription of three suites for cello, opp. The cello symphony, so called because of the equal importance and interwoven dialogue that britten gives to both the soloist and the orchestra, is rarely performed or recorded. His cello muse rostropovich has encouraged britten to explore. Rostropovich was a commanding bach player, and brittens suite is full of the techniques and textures developed in the bach suites.
You will need the acrobat reader to view and print these 6 suites. Its triggered by the passion displayed in the post i browsed. Structural organization in benjamin brittens three suites for solo cello. Brittens suites for solo cello are not perhaps an easy listen any more than they are easy to play, but jamie waltons absorbing performances of all three seem to expose and explore the emotional heart and soul that.
Brittens cello suites are definitely influenced by bachs cello suites, especially with regard to the structure of the works. His recording of the britten cello symphony with the elgar concerto on vc5 453562, accompanied by the city of birmingham symphony orchestra under rattle was an impressive achievement, and he showed his affinity with shostakovich in the disc of the two cello. As brittens expanding interest in writing music for solo instruments continued, he wrote his second and third cello suites, suite no. Unlike the quartets, the suites represent his expansion of a genre over a much more condensed period of seven years between 1964 and 1971.
Triple concerto for violin, cello, piano and orchestra score 1st movement 2nd movement 3rd movement triple concerto in c major op. Brittens cello symphony was next, and then after hearing. The britten cello suites part 1 by aron zelkowicz cellists have as much reason as anyone to celebrate the upcoming benjamin britten centenary, if not more so. The diversity and scope among various recordings of these works seems remarkable, given that the oldest of them was written only in 1964. If you are a fan of the cello repetoire, this cd is a must. Mstislav rostropovich recorded his decca accounts of brittens op.
The composer consented, and a year later produced the cello sonata, op. Britten cello suites, an album by benjamin britten, truls mork 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. Britten cello download free sheet music and scores scorser. Britten is no exception, and throughout all three suites we can clearly hear bach, obviously not in the immediate musical style, but rather in the general. The five major cello works he wrote for mstislav rostropovich the sonata, the symphony concerto, and the three solo suites have been taken up in short order as standard. Britten and bachs cello suites seems to me natural and inviting, so it is somewhat surprising that scholars havent yet elaborated on this connection. Three suites cello by benjamin britten 191976 parts. Innovative use of technique in benjamin brittens cello. While britten s contemporaries focused on extremely inventive methods of writing, britten focused on his own renovation of the traditional elements.
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