Britten Thematic Catalogue

Beta Version

BTC1023 HOLST (GUSTAV): THE WANDERING SCHOLAR, OP. 50

A chamber opera in one act
Period of composition: Nov - Dec 1948
Date notes

This was when the alternative instrumentation was most likely prepared.

Revised: ca. 1951
Genre: Realization
Performing forces:

Principals: Louis, a farmer bar, Alison, his wife sop, Father Philippe bass, Pierre, a wandering scholar ten

Orchestra: fl (=picc), ob (=ca), cl in B flat, bn - hn - perc (sd, td, bd, cymb, susp cymb, tamb) - harp - str qnt (2 vn, va, vc, db)

Notes

The published score states that Britten arranged the orchestration of Holst's opera for the 1951 Cheltenham Festival. However, his earliest work on the arrangement almost certainly dates from November-December 1948, undertaken in preparation for a broadcast in January 1949. Britten adapted Holst's own suggestions for single wind instruments, and wrote new parts for harp and percussion.

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