Spring Symphony, for soprano, alto, tenor, boys' chorus, chorus, and orchestra, op. 44
Spring Symphony is a choral symphony by Benjamin Britten, his Opus 44. The work is scored for soprano, alto and tenor soloists, mixed choir, boys' choir and orchestra. Britten used texts of several poems related to spring, mostly from the 16th and 17th centuries and also one by W. H. Auden. Britten dedicated the work to Serge Koussevitzky and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The work received its premiere in the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam on 14 July 1949 as part of the Holland Festival
Movements
- Part 1: 1. Introduction: Shine Out
- Part 1: 2. The Merry Cuckoo
- Part 1: 3. Spring, the Sweet Spring
- Part 1: 4. The Driving Boy
- Part 1: 5. The Morning Star
- Part 2: 6. Welcome, Maids of Honour
- Part 2: 7. Waters Above!
- Part 2: 8. Out on the lawn I Lie in bed
- Part 3: 9. When will my May Come?
- Part 3: 10. Fair and Fair
- Part 3: 11. Sound the Flute!
- Part 4: 12. Finale: London, to Thee I do Present