Britten Thematic Catalogue

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BTC1163 SUITE ON ENGLISH FOLK TUNES 'A TIME THERE WAS. . .'

For chamber orchestra, op. 90
Period of composition: Oct - 16 Nov 1974
First performance: 13 Jun 1975 >>
Type of performance: Concert performance
Location: Snape Maltings Concert Hall, Aldeburgh Festival
Performance details:

ECO, Steuart Bedford cond

Genre: Orchestral
Performing forces:

2 fl (II=picc), 2 ob (II=ca), 2 cl in B flat, 2 bn - 2 hn, 2 tpt in C - timp, 2 perc (sd, bd, tamburo, trgl, t bell) - harp - str

Duration: 14'
Dedication: 'Lovingly and reverently dedicated to the memory of Percy Grainger'

George Percy ('Aldridge') Grainger (1882-1961), Australian-born composer and pianist.

Notes

The references in the individual movements refer to the following sources:

CDB: The country dance book, ed. Cecil Sharp (Novello, 1909-22)

JFSS: Journal of the folk song society

Playford, 1651: The English dancing master (1651)

Playford, 1706: The dancing master, 13th ed. (1706)

Movements

  • 1 Cakes and ale >>
    notes:

    Tunes from Playford, 1706:

    'We'll wed', p. 104

    'Stepney cakes and ale', p. 144

  • 2 The bitter withy >>
    notes:

    Tunes:

    'The bitter withy', from JFSS II/8 (1906), p. 205

    'The mermaid, from JFSS III/10 (1907): , p. 47

    There is also an unfinished arrangement of 'The bitter withy', which Britten had begun in 1962.

  • 3 Hankin Booby >>
    notes:

    Tunes from Playford, 1651:

    'Mage on a cree', p. 20

    'Hankin booby' (or 'Half hannikin'), p. 43

    This movement was written earlier and was available on hire separately prior to its incorporation into the Suite. See Hankin booby (Dec 1966).

  • 4 Hunt the squirrel >>
    notes:

    Tunes:

    'Hunt the squirrel', from CDB, set 11

    'The tuneful nightingale', from Playford, 1706, p. 303.

  • 5 Lord Melbourne >>
    notes:

    Tunes:

    'Epping Forest', from CDB, set 10

    'Lord Melbourne', from JFSS III/12 (1908), p. 200

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