Britten - Curlew River
Review by Brian Hohmann
Curlew River is a distinctive album by Benjamin Britten, the renowned British composer. The album, released in 1965, is an opera in one act, which is based on a medieval Japanese Noh play. The album features the English Chamber Orchestra, conducted by the brilliant composer himself.
The album is an intriguing mix of Eastern and Western musical influences. The music is haunting, ethereal, and otherworldly. The album's standout feature is the unique sound of the Curlew River, which is created by the English horn. The album's use of chanting, percussion, and strings combine to produce an immersive experience.
The album's vocal performances are outstanding, with Peter Pears, the tenor, leading the way. Pears' voice is emotive and expressive, capturing the essence of the music and the story. The other vocalists are equally impressive, with their voices blending seamlessly with the orchestra.
Table of Contents
Download
Filename: britten-curlew-river.rar- MP3 size: 66 mb
- FLAC size: 1032 mb
Tracks
| Track | Duration | Preview |
|---|---|---|
| Good souls, we have shown you... | 5:14 | |
| Conclusion - Make Haste There, All Of You | ||
| But first may I ask you what is the strange noise? | 2:42 | |
| Part 1 - Te Lucis Ante Terminum | ||
| Go your way in peace, mother | 2:30 | |
| Look! While you were listening to my story... | 2:44 | |
| I come from the Westland | 4:36 | |
| Hoping, I wandered on | 3:30 | |
| Ignorant man! You refuse a passage to me... | 2:11 | |
| Today is an important day | 5:32 | |
| The moon has risen | 5:55 | |
| I beg your pardon | 4:52 | |
| I am the ferryman | 3:09 | |
| Te Lucis Ante Terminum | 7:19 | |
| Ferryman, tell me, when did it happen? | 6:22 | |
| Near the Black Mountains there I dwelt | 2:19 | |
| Clear as sky without a cloud | 2:22 | |
| He whose life was full of promise | 2:22 | |
| Curlew River, smoothly flowing... | 2:14 | |
| A thousand leagues may sunder a mother and her son? | 3:20 |
Images
Catalog Numbers
- S/5716, S-5716
- SLC 2185
- SET 301
- 421 858-2
- R-01832, S/5716
- WD 2949
- OSA 1156, OS 25959
Labels
- World Record Club
- London Records
- Decca
- London Records Of Canada Ltd., London Records
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Formats
- Vinyl
- LP
- Album
- Club Edition
- Stereo
- CD
- Remastered
- Reissue
Companies
| Role | Company |
|---|---|
| Licensed From | Decca |
| Published By | B & H |
| Recorded At | St. Bartholomew's Church, Orford |
| Manufactured By | The Decca Record Company Limited |
| Printed By |
Credits
| Role | Credit |
|---|---|
| Composed By | Benjamin Britten |
| Double Bass | Stuart Knussen |
| Flute | Richard Adeney |
| Harp | Osian Ellis |
| Horn | Neill Sanders |
| Libretto By | William Plomer |
| Liner Notes | Donald Mitchell |
| Organ | Philip Ledger |
| Percussion | James Blades |
| Producer | John Culshaw |
| Viola | Cecil Aronowitz |
| Vocals | Harold Blackburn |
| Baritone Vocals | Bryan Drake, John Shirley-Quirk |
| Bass | Harold Blackburn |
| Soprano Vocals | Bruce Webb |
| Tenor Vocals | Peter Pears |
| Abbot | Harold Blackburn |
| Ferryman | John Shirley-Quirk |
| Madwoman | Peter Pears |
| Traveller | Bryan Drake |
| Voice Of The Spirit | Bruce Webb |
| Bass Vocals | Harold Blackburn |
Notes
- "A DECCA recording, released in Australia exclusively by World Record Club."
- WRC 1st pressing - "S/5716" on sleeve, "S-5716" on labels. Not issued on other formats.
- Rear sleeve notes:
- Libretto based on the Mediaeval Japanese Nō-play 'Sumidagawa' of Jūro Montomasa by William Plomer.
- A leaflet containing the full text and descriptive articles will be found inside this sleeve.
- Recorded in Orford Parish Church. Produced for records by John Culshaw.
- World Record Club:Registered Office-605 Camberwell Road, Hartwell, Victoria, 3124.
- Rear sleeve notes: in Japanese
- Under the direction of Benjamin Britten and Viola Tunnard. Cover Photo: Shuhei Iwamoto.
- FFSS Deep Groove Wide Band ED1 is first label.
- Analogue to Digital remaster
- CD is made in West Germany
- ℗ 1966
- © 1989 The Decca Record Company Limited, London
- Libretto based on the mediæval Japanese Nō-play 'Sumidagawa' of Jūro Montomasa, by William Plomer.
- Australian WRC 2nd pressing, sourced from original stampers and featuring unique sleeve art. "S/5716" on sleeve, "R-01832" on labels. No laminate strip down the right side of the rear of the sleeve. Not issued on other formats. Includes eight-page libretto with notes.
Barcodes
- Matrix / Runout (Label, Side A): ZAL7019
- Matrix / Runout (Label, Side B): ZAL7020
- Matrix / Runout (Runout, Stamped, Side A): ZAL-7019-9G
- Matrix / Runout (Runout, Stamped, Side B): ZAL-7020-10G
- Barcode (Text): 0 28942 18582 1
- Label Code: LC0253
- Matrix / Runout (Side 1 label): S-5716---ZAL7019
- Matrix / Runout (Side 2 label): S-5716---ZAL7020
- Matrix / Runout: ZAL 7019-A, ZAL 7019-B
About Britten
British composer, conductor, and pianist.
Born: November 22, 1913, in Lowestoft, UK - died: December 04, 1976, in Aldeburgh, UK.
He showed talent from an early age, and first came to public attention with the a cappella choral work A Boy Was Born in 1934. With the premiere of his opera Peter Grimes in 1945, he leapt to international fame. For the next fifteen years he devoted much of his compositional attention to writing operas, establishing him as one of the leading 20th century figures in this genre. Britten's interests as a composer were wide-ranging; he produced important music in such varied genres as orchestral, choral, solo vocal (much of it written for the tenor Peter Pears), chamber and instrumental, as well as film music. He also took a great interest in writing music for children and amateur performers, and was a fine pianist and conductor.
One of Britten's most important works, The War Requiem was completed 20 December 1961, and first performed 30 May 1962. Britten received many prizes and honors, including becoming a Companion of Honour in 1952, and a member of the Order of Merit in 1965.
Real Name
- Edward Benjamin Britten
Name Vars
- (Edward) Benjamin (Lord Britten Of Aldeburgh) Britten
- B Britten
- B. BRITTEN
- B. Britenas
- B. Britn
- B. Britteh
- B. Britten
- B. Britton
- B.B.
- B.Britten
- B.ÖêÈó
- Bendžamin Britn
- Benj. Britten
- Benjamin Britten (Lord Britten Of Aldeburgh)
- Benjamin E. Britten
- Benjamin, Lord Britten
- Brittain
- Britten
- Britten, Benjamin
- Britten, Benjamin (Lord Britten of Aldeburgh)
- Britten:
- Edward Benjamin Britten
- Sir Benjamin Britten
- Μπένταμιν Μπρίττεν
- Μπέντζαμιν Μπρίττεν
- Б. Бриттен
- Б. Бритън
- Б.Бриттен
- Б.Бриттен.
- Бенджамен Бриттен
- Бенджамин Бритен
- Бенджамин Бриттен
- Бенджамин Бритън
- Бенжамен Бритън
- Бенџамин Бритн
- Бритен
- Бриттен
- Бритън
- בנג'מין בריטן
- بينجامين بريتين
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- Ùó¸ãßóûÖêÆó
