Britten Thematic Catalogue

Manuscript Sources

1. Sinfonietta - 7 items

   Title	Sinfonietta
   Subtitle	For chamber orchestra
   OpusNo	Op. 1
   RefNo	BBM/sinfonietta
   Date	20 Jun-9 Jul 1932
   Description	Revised in Feb 1936 for small orchestra. Dedicated 'To Frank Bridge'.
   Extent	7 items

   1. Holographs - 7 items

      Title	Holographs
      RefNo	BBM/sinfonietta/1
      Date	20 Jun-9 Jul 1932
      Extent	7 items

      1. Composition draft - 1 page of 10 page manuscript [10r]

         Title	Composition draft
         Subtitle	Incomplete
         RefNo	BBM/sinfonietta/1/1
         Date	circa Jun 1932
         Description	Untitled short draft of the opening eight bars of the work and the opening of the Tarantella section.
         Extent	1 page of 10 page manuscript [10r]
         PhysicalDescription	Pencil; 13.5 x 11.7 cm.

      2. Fair copy - 69 pages of 70 page manuscript [1r-69v]

         Title	Fair copy
         Subtitle	Complete
         RefNo	BBM/sinfonietta/1/2
         Date	11-15 Jul 1932
         Description	Fair copy with dates and signatures.
         Extent	69 pages of 70 page manuscript [1r-69v]
         PhysicalDescription	Black ink; 26.1 x 35.6 cm. See Title Page of Collected Volume. Paper manufacturer = A L.
         TitlePageOfCollectedVolume	' If found please return to:- / [signature] / 173. Cromwell Rd. S.W.5 / 21. Kirkley Cliff Rd. Lowestoft / Royal College of Music. Prince Consort Rd. S.W.7'. [Inside front cover] ' SINFONIETTA / for / TEN INSTRUMENTS / [signature] / June 20th-July 9th 1932 / 173 Cromwell Rd., / S.W.5'. [page 1r]

      3. Instrumental part - 1 manuscript; 1 page [1r-1v]

         Title	Instrumental part
         Subtitle	Violin part
         RefNo	BBM/sinfonietta/1/3
         Date	5 Aug 1932
         Description	Incomplete violin part with orchestral cues.
         Extent	1 manuscript; 1 page [1r-1v]
         PhysicalDescription	Black ink and pencil; 26.3 x 35.5 cm. Paper manufacturer = A L.

      4. Fair copy - 1 manuscript; 70 pages [1r-70r]

         Title	Fair copy
         Subtitle	Complete
         RefNo	BBM/sinfonietta/1/4
         Date	1-4 Nov 1932
         Description	Fair copy with dates and signatures. Anotations and additions are present throughout the score in red and pink pencil. Britten has also pasted in replacement sections at various points.
         Extent	1 manuscript; 70 pages [1r-70r]
         PhysicalDescription	Black ink and red, black and pink pencil. Some pages are stamped with the British Library crest. Boosey and Hawkes Hire Library stamp is also present at various point throughout the score. See Title Page of Collected Volume.Paper manufacturer = A L.
         TitlePageOfCollectedVolume	'SINFONIETTA / FOR TEN INSTRUMENTS / [signature]'. [1r] ' Time of performance 14-15 minutes [crossed out] / [instrumental forces listed] / Jun 20th 1932 / July 9th 1932 [crossed out] / 173 Cromwell Rd./ S.W.5 [crossed out]' . [2r]

   2. Non-holograph - 1 item

      Title	Non-holograph
      RefNo	BBM/sinfonietta/2
      Date	circa Aug 1932
      Extent	1 item

      1. Instrumental part - 5 pages of 6 page manuscript [1r-5v]

         Title	Instrumental part
         Subtitle	Cello part
         RefNo	BBM/sinfonietta/2/1
         Date	between 12 Aug- 1 Nov 1932
         Description	Annotated cello part. Copyist unknown.
         Extent	5 pages of 6 page manuscript [1r-5v]
         PhysicalDescription	Black ink; 26.3 x 35.5 cm. Paper manufacturer = A L. See Title Page of Collected Volume.
         TitlePageOfCollectedVolume	'CELLO / SINFONIETTA / FOR TEN INSTRUMENTS / BENJAMIN BRITTEN'.