SKU: HL.48021234

ISBN 9781458423542. UPC: 884088642037. 6.75x10.5 inches.

Text: in Latin compiled from the charter of the University, and from older orations in praise of Basle by Bernhard Wyss.

Publisher: Boosey & Hawkes

Difficulty level: 4 (for chorus)

Britten's genius lifts this work above being just a worthy celebration of the 500th anniversary of the foundation of Basle University. It is tongue-in-cheek and mockingly non-academic while referring all the time to academic musical forms and formulae. It is written in two parts (everything is in the statutory Latin including the titles of the parts - Pars I and Pars II). The titles of the movements show Britten's intention to show off a wide variety of techniques. Here are some examples: Chorale/Alla Rovescio (the theme is given and responded to with the same melody upside down)/Recitativo/Tema seriale con fuga/Canone ed ostinato. There is a good deal of humour here.

There are seven movements in Pars I and six in Pars II. The tenor soloist is given three florid recitatives, accompanied only by a piano, which act as bridges between other orchestrally accompanied movements. Of these the most noteworthy are the Arioso con canto popolare for soprano solo with tenors and basses who hum a student song; another terrific Britten scherzo; and a wonderfully raucous final pair of movements (Canon ed ostinato and Corale con canto) where Britten seems to be aping the Vivat Regina! cries in Parry's I was glad or encouraging the kind of noisy 'I'm from the best university' kind of student touchline shout. This has outrageously high notes for the tenors (top B) which further endorse this feeling. There are real echoes of the Spring Symphony (see separate entry) final movement here which are further underlined by the last section of the Cantata which brings in the bells, piano, huge percussion and the inevitable chorale in which the choir sings 'that a free academy may thrive in a free community, for ever the ornament and treasure of illustrious Basle'.

This may not be Britten at his most soul-searching but, as always, there is plenty here to enjoy, especially if the work is not taken too seriously. It is a celebratory, occasional piece and it could be well taken up by other academic establishments celebrating big anniversaries. The chorus parts are not very difficult, though they do present challenges for the choir - not least in having tenors capable of those very high notes at the end. The Tema seriale con fuga is sinewy and needs careful tuning. It also has the subject regularly given upside down after its initial sounding by the basses. All good fun.

Duration: 21 minutes

Paul Spicer, Lichfield, 2011.

SKU: HL.50600662

8.25x11.75x0.082 inches.

“This piece is the expression of my admiration for the married couple Hyun-Jung and Julius Berger, two remarkable musicians and outstanding violoncellists. As representatives of two different cultures which are far removed from each other in many respects, this couple forms a magnificent, harmonious family and has given the world two delightful boys. During the Asiago Festival in Italy, I had the good fortune to observe the everyday life of this wonderful family, whose relationship is based on the feeling of love, service to music, mutual trust and help. My composition is inspired by these unforgettable impressions. To speak in the language of musical associations: the clarinet part contains grace, elegance, femininity and the goodness of the wife, whereas noblesse, power, temperament and romanticism of the husband are found in the violoncello part. Consent and harmony always reign between these two parts; the roles of the soloist and accompanist are exchanged now and then, but they always maintain a benevolent agreement and complete similarity, complementing and supporting each other. I hope that my musical present will find its way into Professor Berger's heart.” (Franghiz Ali-Zadeh).