Benjamin
Britten was an English composer, conductor and pianist whose name has
gone down in history as one of the best musicians of the past century.
Dissatisfaction with the music of contemporary England led Britten to
model himself on the works of other musicians from the continent. It
must have been this dissatisfaction that must have enabled Britten to
transcend genres of music like very few others. Even when the
inspiration to his music lied elsewhere, his music had a freshness and
identity that separated him from contemporary musicians and pushed him
in to a league of his own. His works are also considered a refreshing
change from the dullness that had seemed to dominate orchestral music of
England in late 19th and early 20th century. Explore more about the
life and work of this legendary musician in this biography that
encapsulates everything from his childhood to death in detail.
Benjamin Britten’s Childhood and Early Life
Benjamin Britten was born Edward Benjamin Britten in Lowestoft,
Suffolk County, England on November 22, 1913, on St. Cecilia’s Day, to
Robert and Edith Britten, as the youngest of four children. Robert was a
dentist while Edith was an amateur musician. She was Benjamin’s first
teacher and gave him his first piano lessons. Even when a child Britten
showed prodigious talents and composed at a rate that was astounding.
His juvenile compositions were more than 800. His first piano lessons
with a teacher were at the age of seven. He started viola lessons with
Audrey Alston at the age of 10. He later dedicated one of his works to
her. It was through her that Britten came to the notice of Frank Bridge,
eminent composer and violist. Impressed by his talents, Bridge agreed
to tutor him in composition. Bridge remained an influential figure in
the life of Britten who went on to champion his teacher’s works. Britten
even wrote a work titled ‘Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge’
dedicated to his teacher.
Education: From a Child Prodigy to Master
In 1930, Britten joined the Royal College of Music where he studied
composition under John Ireland and piano under Arthur Benjamin. He
studied there until 1933. It was during this period that he met
composers from the continent like Stravinsky, Gustav Mahler, and Dmitry
Shostakovich. Stravinsky would also become a major influence on Britten.
Britten had commented that Stravinsky was the first musician since the
era of Beethoven who freed himself from the creation of self–centered
music. The compositions of note from this period were ‘A Hymn to the
Virgin’ and ‘A Boy was Born’, the former an opera and the latter choral
variations.
As a Professional
Britten’s father’s death meant that he had to come up with his own
source of income. To this purpose, he started composing music for
television documentaries and films. This stood him in good stead as he
could easily incorporate elements from film music into works classical
in nature. During his earliest works for the BBC, he came in contact
with W.H. Auden with whom he worked a few more times. It was also during
one such project with the BBC in 1937 that he came in contact with
Peter Pears. Pears, who went on to become his music collaborator and
life partner, was a tenor for whom Britten wrote most of his solo music.
In the same year, he composed his ‘Variations on a Theme of Frank
Bridge’. This work brought him international acclaim.
Britten was against war of all kinds. Following his role as a
pacifist during the Second World War and his general disillusionment
with war, he decided to move to America with Auden and Pears in 1939.
While in America, he composed ‘The Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo’, his
first song cycle for Pears. He also wrote his first music drama, ‘Paul
Bunyan’. A growing disillusionment at not having what he hoped for in
America forced Britten to rethink about his settlement there. He and
Pears moved back to England in 1942.
Back in England, Britten’s reputation started burgeoning with works
like ‘Hymns to St. Cecilia’, ‘Peter Grimes’ being huge successes from
the 1940’s. Towards the end of this decade, due to the uneasy
relationships at the musical scene in London, he created the English
Opera Group in 1947. He established the Aldeburgh Festival in 1948 where
he performed his works. The festival went on to become so huge that it
attracted performers from all over the world.
Throughout the 1950’s and 1960’s, Britten came up with many works
that were huge successes. The operas ‘Billy Budd’ and ‘The Turn of the
Screw’, the ballet ‘The Prince of the Pagodas’ were notable works of the
1950’s. In 1953, Britten was appointed a Companion of Honor. He
continued to produce works of greatness in the 1960’s including ‘War
Requiem’ in 1962. Other notable works of this period include ‘The
Prodigal Son’ and ‘The Burning Fiery Furnace’ among others. It was also
in this decade, in 1965, that he was honored by his appointment to the
Order of Merit.
Death
