"Compositional Design Elements and Stylistic Influences in Benjamin Britten's ""A Boy Was Born"

Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) composed A Boy Was Born at the Royal College of Music during his third and final year of study, 1932-1933. This choral work is constructed as a theme and six variations, lasting approximately 30 minutes. The work has received little treatment in Britten scholarship. This dissertation aims to provide a substantial analysis of the work that demonstrates the consistent presence of the following compositional design elements: pentatonic collections, ostinato, non-tertian harmony, the creation and manipulation of musical motives and cells, discrete use of 'stillness', and the layering of multiple elements. The dissertation will put the composition in the context of Britten's first nineteen years, both from his public and private narratives. The dissertation also examines other compositions that were stylistic influences, namely Walton's Belshazzar's Feast, Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on Christmas Carols, and Stravinsky's Petrushka, and compares the compositional design elements in A Boy Was Born to later Britten works, namely Hymn to St. Cecilia, A Ceremony of Carols, Peter Grimes, and War Requiem. .

Name thesis:degree_name

D.M.A.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Music

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Sieck, Stephen Michael

Contributors dc:contributor

• Stoltzfus, Fred

• Music

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI3242993

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/85780