Born: November 22, 1913 Lowestoft, Suffolk England
Died: December 4, 1976 Aldeburgh, Suffolk England
Music Listening Program Piece of the Week:
Four Sea Interludes No. 2 Sunday Morning on page 89 in your binder.
Piece with narration by Mr. Jamesbarry...
• Monday
• Tuesday
• Wednesday
• Thursday
• Friday
From Classics For Kids
Benjamin Britten was an expert in three different musical fields -- conducting, composing and playing the piano. Britten was born in Lowestoft, a town on the English seacoast. (His birthday, November 22nd, happens to be the saint day of the patron saint of music, St. Cecilia.) Benjamin's father was a dentist; his mother loved to sing, and regularly held concerts in their home.
From the moment he started playing the piano, Britten knew he wanted to earn his living as a composer. His first paying job was writing music for films.
Britten was a pacifist -- he didn't believe in fighting wars. So when it became obvious that England would go to war with Germany in 1939, Britten left for America. But it was impossible to take the “Brit” out of Britten. In the middle of World War II, he sailed back to his native country.
When the war was over, the biggest opera company in England held a gala reopening, and commissioned Britten to write a new opera for the occasion. Britten was also asked to compose an opera when Elizabeth II was crowned Queen of England.
Follow the links below to learn more about Benjamin Britten. You can listen to radio shows about the composer, learn about his works, and see pictures of his home and compositions. There's more biographical and historical information along with listening samples of his music.
The Classics for KIds sites has produced several informative and entertaining radio shows that you can listen to.
Other links to Benjamin Britten
Dallas Symphony's Britten Page
To learn more about the orchestra and live performances of classical music, check out these sites...
San Francisco Symphony for Kids
The New York Philharmonic for Kids
NPR Performance Today
Finally check out what kids around the country are doing with classical music. The NPR podcast Classicool Kids is taken from highlights from the NPR radio show From the Top, which showcases young musicians and artists.
If you wish to subscribe to the weekly podcast click here.
To see an RSS feed and play episodes through you web browser or down load to you desktop click here.
Or find out when and where you can list to the radio broadcast of From the Top.
