Canon
Where to start with Britten
Essential works to know this composer by — spread across their styles-
Orchestral4 Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes, op. 33a
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VocalLes Illuminations, op. 18
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StageBilly Budd, op. 50 — Opera
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Chamber2 Insect Pieces, for oboe and piano
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Keyboard2 Pieces for 2 Pianos, op. 23
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VocalSerenade for Tenor, Horn, and Strings, op. 31 — Song cycle
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OrchestralYoung Person's Guide to the Orchestra, op. 34 — Variations and fugue on a theme by Purcell, for speaker and orchestra
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VocalNocturne, op. 60 — Song cycle
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OrchestralPassacaglia, op. 33b
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StagePeter Grimes, op. 33 — Opera
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OrchestralSimple Symphony, op. 4
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OrchestralSinfonia da Requiem, op. 20
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OrchestralVariations on a Theme by Frank Bridge, for strings, op. 10
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OrchestralViolin Concerto in D minor, op. 15
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VocalWar Requiem, for STB soloists, boys' voices, chorus, chamber orchestra, orchestra, and organ, op. 66
Listening guide
Hand-curated paths into Britten's catalogueMost Popular
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War Requiem
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Peter Grimesopera
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Simple Symphony
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Young Person\’s Guide to the Orchestra
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Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings
Most Acclaimed
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Billy Buddopera — all-male cast
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String Quartet No. 3
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Death in Veniceopera
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Nocturne for Tenor and Orchestra
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String Quartet No. 2
Most Weird
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String Quartet No. 3his last completed work — the passacaglia finale, Burlesque, and five movements that feel like a farewell
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Death in Venicethe whole opera is saturated with Venetian light and death; the same singer plays both Aschenbach and the voice of Death in different costumes
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Curlew Riverchurch parable — based on Japanese Noh theater; no conductor, players process in as monks
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Owen Wingraveopera written for television — a pacifist confronts his military family
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The Prodigal Sonchurch parable — tempter is played by the same character as the Abbot
Similar composers
Same era, overlapping styles — by genre & period affinityWorks 185
- Orchestral
- ● 4 Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes, op. 33a
- ● Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, op. 34 — Variations and fugue on a theme by Purcell, for speaker and orchestra
- Passacaglia, op. 33b
- Simple Symphony, op. 4
- Sinfonia da Requiem, op. 20
- Variations on a Theme by Frank Bridge, for strings, op. 10
- Violin Concerto in D minor, op. 15
- 2 Portraits, for viola and orchestra
- An American Overture
- An American in England, for orchestra
- Canadian Carnival, op. 19
- Cello Symphony, op. 68
- Coal Face, film score
- Elegy for Strings
- Gloriana, symphonic suite for tenor and orchestra, op. 53a
- King Arthur, suite
- Lachrymae: Reflections on a Song of Dowland, for viola and string orchestra, op. 48a
- Love from a Stranger, film score for orchestra
- Matinées musicales, op. 24, "Rossini Suite no. 2"
- Men Behind the Meters, film score
- Men of Goodwill, variations on a carol
- Negroes/God's Chillun, film score
- Night Mail, film score
- Occasional Overture in C major, op. 38
- Peace of Britain
- Piano Concerto in D major, op. 13
- Scottish Ballad, for 2 pianos and orchestra, op. 26
- Sinfonietta, for chamber orchestra, op. 1
- Soirées Musicales, op. 9, "Rossini Suite no. 1"
- Spring Symphony, for soprano, alto, tenor, boys' chorus, chorus, and orchestra, op. 44
- Suite on English folk tunes, op. 90
- Telegrams, film score
- The King's Stamp, film score
- The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57a — Suite from the ballet
- The Tocher Suite, from ballet film
- The Way to the Sea, film score
- Two Portraits, for string orchestra
- Variations on an Elizabethan Theme: Variation 4, for orchestra
- Vocal
- ● Les Illuminations, op. 18
- ● Serenade for Tenor, Horn, and Strings, op. 31 — Song cycle
- Nocturne, op. 60 — Song cycle
- War Requiem, for STB soloists, boys' voices, chorus, chamber orchestra, orchestra, and organ, op. 66
- 3 Two-Part Songs, for boys' or female chorus
- 4 Chansons Françaises, for voice and orchestra
- 5 Flower Songs, op. 47
- 6 Choral Dances from Gloriana, for a cappella chorus, op. 53
- 6 Choral Dances from Gloriana, for chorus, op. 53
- 7 Sonnets of Michelangelo, op. 22 — Song cycle
- 8 Sacred and Profane Medieval Lyrics, for SSATB chorus, op. 91
- A Birthday Hansel, for tenor and harp, op. 92 — Song cycle
- A Boy Was Born, choral variations, op. 3
- A Ceremony of Carols, op. 28
- A Charm of Lullabies, for voice and piano, op. 41
- A Divine Hymn
- A Hymn to the Virgin, for double chorus
- A Shepherd's Carol, for chorus
- A Wealden Trio: The Song of the Women, carol for female chorus
- A Wedding Anthem, for soprano, tenor, chorus, and organ, op. 46
- A.M.D.G.
- Advance Democracy, for double chorus
- Antiphon, for chorus and organ, op. 56b
- Ballad of Heroes, for high voice, chorus and orchestra, op. 14
- Ballad of Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard, for male chorus and piano
- Beware! 3 early songs, for voice and piano
- Britain to America, for voice and chorus
- Cabaret Songs for Hedli Anderson
- Cantata academica, for soloists, chorus, and orchestra, op. 62
- Cantata misericordium, for tenor, baritone, chorus, string quartet, piano, harp, tympani, and strings, op. 69
- Canticle 1: My Beloved Is Mine, for high voice and piano, op. 40
- Canticle 2: Abraham and Isaac, for alto, tenor, and piano, op. 51
- Canticle 3: Still Falls the Rain, for tenor, horn and piano, op. 55
- Canticle 4: The Journey of the Magi, for countertenor, tenor, baritone and piano, op. 86
- Canticle 5: The Death of St.Narcissus, for tenor and harp, op. 89
- Children and Sir Nameless — Song
- Children's Crusade, ballad for child voices, percussion, 2 pianos, and organ, op. 82
- Chorale on an Old French Carol, for double chorus
- Christ's Nativity, Christmas suite for chorus
- Corpus Christi Carol — Song
- Deus in adjutorium meum, 'Psalm 70' motet for chorus
- Fancie: Tell me where is fancy bred, for unison chorus and piano
- Festival Te Deum, for trumpet, chorus and organ, op. 32
- Fish in the Unruffled Lakes — Song
- Hadrian's Wall, for voice and piano
- Hymn of St. Columba, for chorus and organ
- Hymn to St. Cecilia, op. 27
- Hymn to St. Peter, for trumpet, chorus and organ, op. 56a
- If it's ever spring again — Song
- Jubilate Deo in C major, for chorus and organ
- Jubilate Deo in E flat major
- King Herod and the Cock, for unison chorus and piano
- May, for unison chorus and piano
- Missa Brevis, for boys' chorus and organ in D major, op. 63
- Night covers up the rigid land — Song
- Now sleeps the crimson petal, for tenor, horn and strings — Song
- On the Frontier, for choir and ensemble
- On this Island, op. 11 — Song cycle
- Our Hunting Fathers, for high voice and orchestra, op. 8 — Song cycle
- Phaedra, dramatic cantata for mezzo-soprano, string orchestra, percussion, and harpsichord, op. 93
- Psalm 150, for children's chorus and instruments, op. 67
- Purcell Realizations from Orpheus Britannicus, 6 Songs for voice and piano
- Rejoice in the Lamb, festival cantata for trumpet, ATB soloists, chorus, and organ, op. 30
- Saint Nicholas, cantata for tenor, choruses, and large ensemble, op. 42
- Songs and Proverbs of William Blake — Song cycle
- Songs from the Chinese, for high voice and guitar, op. 58 — Song cycle
- Sweet was the Song, carol for female chorus
- Te Deum, for trumpet, chorus and organ in C
- The Ascent of F6, for tenor, choir, and ensemble
- The Birds — Song
- The Bitter Withy, folk song for tenor, boys' chorus and piano
- The Building of the House, overture for chorus and orchestra, op. 79
- The Company of Heaven
- The Golden Vanity, vaudeville for boys' voices and piano, op. 78
- The Heart of the Matter, for tenor, narrator, horn, piano — Song cycle
- The Holy Sonnets of John Donne, op. 35 — Song cycle
- The Oxen, carol for female chorus and piano
- The Poet's Echo, for high voice and piano, op. 76 — Song cycle
- The Sun Shines Down — Song
- The Sycamore Tree, carol
- The Twelve Apostles, for tenor, unison voices, and piano
- The World of the Spirit, music for a radio program, for SATB soloists, chorus and orchestra
- Tit for Tat — Song cycle
- To Lie Flat on the Back — Song
- Underneath the Abject Willow, for mezzo-soprano, tenor, and piano
- Variations on an Elizabethanian Theme, for voice and orchestra
- Venite exultemus Domino
- Welcome Ode, for young people's chorus and orchestra, op. 95
- What's in Your Mind? — Song
- When You’re Feeling Like Expressing Your Affection — Song
- Who are these Children?, for tenor and piano, op. 84 — Song cycle
- Wild with passion, song for high voice and piano
- Winter Words, for tenor and piano, op. 52 — Song cycle
- Stage
- Billy Budd, op. 50 — Opera
- Peter Grimes, op. 33 — Opera
- A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64 — Opera
- Albert Herring, op. 39
- Beggar's Opera
- Burning Fiery Furnace, op. 77
- Curlew River, op. 71
- Death in Venice, op. 88 — Opera
- Gloriana, op. 53 — Opera
- Johnson over Jordan, incidental music for soprano, flute, and orchestra
- Little Sweep, op. 45
- Noye's Fludde, op. 59
- Owen Wingrave, op. 85 — Opera
- Paul Bunyan, op. 17
- Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57 — Ballet
- Prodigal Son, op. 81
- Rape of Lucretia, op. 37
- Turn of the Screw, op. 54
- Chamber
- 2 Insect Pieces, for oboe and piano
- 3 Divertimenti for String Quartet
- Alla marcia, for string quartet
- Cello Sonata in C major, op. 65
- Elegy, for solo viola
- Etude, for viola
- Fanfare for St. Edmundsbury, for trumpets in multiples of 3
- Gemini Variations, for flute, violin, and piano, 4 hands, op. 73
- Lachrymae: Reflections on a Song of Dowland, op. 48a
- Miniature Suite for String Quartet
- Phantasy Quartet in F minor, for oboe and string trio, op. 2
- Prelude and Fugue, for 18 strings, op. 29
- Quartettino for String Quartet
- Reflection, for viola and piano
- Reveille, for violin and piano
- Russian Funeral, for brass and percussion
- Solo Cello Suite no. 1, op. 72
- Solo Cello Suite no. 2, op. 80
- Solo Cello Suite no. 3, op. 87
- String Quartet in D
- String Quartet in F
- String Quartet no. 1 in D major, op. 25
- String Quartet no. 2 in C major, op. 36
- String Quartet no. 3, op. 94
- Suite for Violin and Piano, op. 6
- Suite in C major, for harp, op. 83
- Tema 'Sacher,' for solo cello
- Temporal Variations for Oboe and Piano
- Valse in B major, for violin and piano
- Young Apollo, for piano, string quartet, and strings, op. 16
- Keyboard
- 2 Pieces for 2 Pianos, op. 23
- 5 Waltzes, for piano
- A Little Idyll, for piano
- Holiday Diary, op. 5
- Night Piece, for piano
- Prelude and Fugue on a Theme of Vittoria, for organ