Britten Thematic Catalogue

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BTC1135 THE BUILDING OF THE HOUSE

Overture with or without chorus, op. 79
Period of composition: Jan - 16 Mar 1967
First performance: 2 Jun 1967 >>
Type of performance: Concert performance
Location: Snape Maltings Concert Hall, Aldeburgh Festival
Performance details:

Chorus of East Anglian Choirs, ECO, Benjamin Britten cond

Genre: Orchestral or choral
Text: Psalm 127, adapted by Imogen Holst from ''The whole book of psalms'' (set in English)
Performing forces:

Chorus (SATB) ad lib.), 2 fl, 2 ob, 2 cl in B flat, 2 bn - 2 hn, 2 tpt in C, tuba - timp, perc (bells, trgl, cymb, sd, xyl) - org (ad lib.) - str

The chorus can be replaced or added to by an organ - chamber or grand - or by extra brass (3rd trumpet and 3 trombones).

Duration: note

5.5 mins

Commissioned:

Written for the opening of The Maltings Concert Hall, Snape, and used again for re-openings in 1970 (after the hall's destruction by fire in 1969, and subsequent rebuilding) and in 1999 after extensive renovations.

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