Season Finale 2021 Program Complete
The University of Southern Mississippi College of Arts and Sciences School of Music PRESENT Thursday, April 15, 2021, 8 p.m. Bennett Auditorium Dr. Michael Miles, conductor Carlos Fernandez, conductor PROGRAM Simple Symphony Benjamin Britten I. Boisterous Bourrée (1913-1976) II. Playful Pizzicato III. Sentimental Saraband IV. Frolicsome Finale Holberg Suite, op. 40 Edvard Grieg I. Prelude (1843-1907) II. Sarabande III. Gavotte V. Rigaudon Divertimento for Strings Béla Bartók I. Allegro non troppo (1881-1945) II. Adagio non troppo III. Allegro assai Program Notes Simple Symphony by Benjamin Britten Benjamin Britten, born 1913 and died 1976 in Suffolk, was an English composer, pianist, and conductor. Britten began studying music from a young age and at the age of twelve, he began to study with composer Frank Bridge. Britten later entered the Royal College of Music in London where he studied with John Ireland and Arthur Benjamin. Britten’s work began to earn international recognition in 1937 after the premiere of Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge for string orchestra. While in the United States from 1939 to 1942, Britten received commissions to write several operas, some of which are considered to be the best English operas since those of 17th century composer Henry Purcell. Britten was the conductor and artistic director of the English Opera Group which led to the creation of the Aldeburgh Festival in 1947— one of the most influential music festivals in England. Although Britten is most known for his compositions featuring vocalists, he has a few instrumental pieces which remain popular today. Some of these instrumental works include his three string quartets, The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Symphony in D Major for Cello and Orchestra, and one of his earlier works, Simple Symphony for strings, composed from 1933 to 1934.
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