A Boy Was Born, choral variations, op. 3
A Boy Was Born, Op. 3, is a choral composition by Benjamin Britten. Subtitled Choral variations for men's, women's and boys' voices, unaccompanied (organ ad lib), it was originally composed from 1932 to 1933. It was first performed on 23 February 1934 as a BBC broadcast. Britten revised the work in 1955. The composer set different texts related to Christmas to music as theme and variations, scored for an a cappella choir with boys' voices.
Movements
- Theme. A boy was born
- Variation I. Lullay, Jesu
- Variation II. Herod
- Variation III. Jesu, as Thou art our Saviour
- Variation IV. The three kings
- Variation V. In the bleak mid-winter: Corpus Christi Carol
- Variation VI (Finale). Noel!