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. A composer setting out to create an extensive multimovement work for a solo string instrument can hardly avoid the influence of j. Apr 15, 2012 in 1964 britten presented rostropovich with the suite for cello op. After hearing rostropovich perform the six bach cello suites, britten intended to respond with six suites of his own.
Then you can easily print only the violin part example. 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. D espite the cold war, britten developed an important circle of russiansoviet friendships in the early 1960s, among whom was the great cellist mstislav rostropovich. Cello bwv 10071012 2018 en 3 suites for solo cello. 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. 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. Brittens correspondence with rostropovich reveals the composers humility in the. 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. From her notes, it seems to have taken viersen a while to be convinced of their worth. 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.
An analytical study of the sonata in c for cello and piano by benjamin britten, written by charles baker. 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. This recording gives permanence to some of the best cello playing i have ever heard. We are hugely fortunate that it gave rise to brittens being inspired to write extensively for the cello. 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. Print and download in pdf or midi britten cello suites no. We are hugely fortunate that it gave rise to britten s 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 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.
Britten s cello symphony was next, and then after hearing rostropovich play the bach solo suites britten. 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. Their begetter in an inspirational sense was rostropovich, for whom the 1961 cello sonata and the cello symphony of two years later were also written. P i do have a few questions for you if its allright. 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. Is it only me or do some of these responses appear as if they are. This work provides an excellent, indepth analysis of the five.
This study focused on benjamin britten s four solo cello works. Rostropovich premiered it at the 1965 aldeburgh festival. Britten and bachs cello suites seems to me natural and inviting, so it is somewhat surprising that scholars havent yet elaborated on this connection. Britten s cello suites are definitely influenced by bachs cello suites, especially with regard to the structure of the works.
Titlestructuralorganization inbenjaminbrittensthreesuitesforsolocello. Chords have been adjusted for the conversion from a 4 to a 6 string instrument. Florida state university libraries electronic theses, treatises and dissertations the graduate school 2007 the twentieth centurys most significant works for cello. Innovative use of technique in benjamin brittens cello works. Benjamin britten s suites for solo cello have been extensively documented. Brittens correspondence with rostropovich reveals the composers humility in the face of rostropovichs reputation. Rostropovich was a commanding bach player, and britten s suite is full of the techniques and textures developed in the bach suites. Mstislav rostropovich recorded his decca accounts of britten s op.
Suite i bwv 1007 suite ii bwv 1008 suite iii bwv 1009 suite iv bwv 1010 suite v bwv 1011 suite vi bwv 1012. Brittens cello symphony was next, and then after hearing. As a result, the portion of the discussion of this sonata is limited and the details sketchy. 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. The friendship between britten and rostropovich is well documented. 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. Rostropovich was a commanding bach player, and brittens suite is full of the techniques and textures developed in the bach suites. Three suites cello by benjamin britten 191976 parts.
If you are a fan of the cello repetoire, this cd is a must. 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. Mstislav rostropovich recorded his decca accounts of brittens op. While brittens contemporaries focused on extremely inventive methods of writing, britten focused on his own renovation of the traditional elements. 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. 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. The focus of this project is a transcription of three suites for cello, opp. This project covers the transcription of three suites for cello, opp. 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 suites are naturally in a direct line from the baroque collections of dances which, for the cello, culminate in the six suites by j. Notes this is rather difficult but some bass viol players out there will want to try it. Double concerto for violin and cello and orchestra score 1st movement 2nd movement 3rd movement goncharenko, v. 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. 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.
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. Structural organization in benjamin brittens three suites for solo cello. 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. Its triggered by the passion displayed in the post i browsed. Bachs six such works each for both violin and cello. As brittens expanding interest in writing music for solo instruments continued, he wrote his second and third cello suites, suite no. Britten cello suites by benjamin britten on spotify. 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.
This recording is dedicated to the late producer paul janse, who recorded quirine viersens bach suites and persuaded her to turn to brittens. Structural organization in benjamin brittens three suites for solo. While britten s contemporaries focused on extremely inventive methods of writing, britten focused on his own renovation of the traditional elements. 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.
The first suite was premiered by rostropovich at the aldeburgh festival on june 27, 1965. Benjamin brittens suites for solo cello have been extensively documented. Benjamin britten, mstislav rostropovich cello suites 1. His cello muse rostropovich has encouraged britten to explore. His cello muse rostropovich has encouraged britten to explore the dark and textured sounds of the modern cello. Britten introduced challenging cello techniques in his compositions inspired by mstislav rostropovich. A friendship was being forged, and so was a whole catalogue of cello works for the russian. Britten cello download free sheet music and scores scorser. Innovative use of technique in benjamin brittens 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. In the solo suites, where britten emulates bach by giving the cello line such a broad harmonic perspective, gerhardts playing is supple, richly. This study focused on benjamin brittens four solo cello works.
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