Britten Simple Symphony
BENJAMIN BRITTEN 1913-1976
Simple Symphony for String Orchestra Opus 4
Boisterous Bourree
Playful Pizzicato
Sentimental Saraband
Frolicsome Finale
In his last year as a student at the Royal College of Music, the twenty year old Britten won a modest travelling scholarship as a result of which he intended to study under Alban Berg in Vienna. Such was the reaction against serial music at the time that he was eventually dissuaded by both the College and his parents.
Quelling his disappointment, he started work instead on the Simple Symphony, which was dedicated to his viola teacher and was first performed in Norwich on 6th March, 1934.
The work consists of movements or excerpts from a number of early childhood pieces written between the ages of nine and twelve, which Britten re-scored and supplemented as necessary to produce a work which, despite the somewhat flippant titles of the movements, is of considerable stature and a good example of Britten's ability to invest the commonplace with new freshness and spontaneity.
The first movement, "Boisterous Bourree", is a brisk contrapuntal allegro, built mainly from two contrasting motives, one spiky and the other more lyrical. The "Playful Pizzicato" which follows is effectively a scherzo and trio, marked as fast as possible and played pizzicato throughout.
The ensuing slow Saraband is a movement of haunting eloquence, with many of Britten's characteristic harmonic touches. The "Frolicsome Finale" is built from a powerful upthrusting phrase, first given in unison. The development of this simple idea is astonishingly bold and eventful.
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