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Hymn to St Peter
1955 cantata by Benjamin Britten / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hymn to St Peter (Op. 56a) is a cantata for treble soloist, SATB choir and organ composed by Benjamin Britten in 1955. The piece was the last Britten composed before he first travelled to Asia. He set the text from the gradual of the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul to music which was based on the plainsong of the Alleluia from the hymn. The piece starts with a sombre organ theme in B Flat and when the choir joins in it is initially in unison before breaking into harmonies. After a nimble interlude that recalls children's play, the piece returns to the original theme, ending with a coda played by the organ alone. The piece was first performed at the quincentenary celebrations of St Peter Mancroft, Norwich on 20 November 1955. It was subsequently performed by The Sixteen under Harry Christophers and has frequently been sung with children's voices.
Hymn to St Peter | |
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Cantata by Benjamin Britten | |
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Opus | 56a |
Occasion | 500th anniversary of St Peter, Mancroft, Norwich |
Text | Gradual of the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul |
Language | English |
Composed | 1955 (1955) |
Scoring | Soloist, SATB choir and organ |