Britten Thematic Catalogue

Beta Version

BTC685 I SAW THREE SHIPS

For SATB unaccompanied
Subtitle: For SATB unaccompanied
Other titles: The sycamore tree

Published title (1968)

Period of composition: 12 - 13 Sep 1930
Revised: 30 Apr-2 May 1934; Nov 1967
First performance: 5 Jan 1931 (original version) >>
Type of performance: Concert performance
Location: St John's Church, Lowestoft.
Performance details:

The Lowestoft Musical Society, C.J.R. Coleman cond.

Genre: Choral (unaccompanied)
Text: Traditional
Duration: 3'
Dedication: 'For Imo' [1967 revision]

Imogen Holst (1907-1984), English composer, conductor, teacher and writer. She was Britten's assistant from 1952-1964.

Notes

In October 1930 'I saw three ships' was copied out to form a pair with A hymn to the Virgin (Sep 1930) under the title 'Two choral songs'. 'I saw three ships' was first performed at the same concert as the premiere of 'A hymn to the Virgin'.

All content copyright (C) Britten-Pears Foundation 2012 unless stated. Please note all BTC numbers are provisional at this stage.