Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) was arguably one of the most important English composers of all time, and he was instrumental in the regeneration of English music in the twentieth century. Browse our sheet music and scores, and explore all his incredible works, which helped put Britain back on the musical map, with Stretta Music today!
Benjamin Britten was never short of imagination. Like Mozart and Schubert, he composed easily and spontaneously, and never resorted to artificially constructed compositional processes. Britten was particularly influenced by English folk and renaissance, particularly by Henry Purcell, and he was also inspired by the neoclassical works Igor Stravinsky.
Benjamin Britten saw his first success at the young age of 19, when he composed his Phantasy Quartet for oboe and strings, and one of his most famous pieces, his Simple Symphony, followed just a few years later. Other well-known instrumental works include his 1946 The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra.
In 1962 Britten composed one of his most intense works, Britten’s War Requiem, in which he deals with the horrors of war, and advocates for peace. The work was commissioned for and premiered at the grand re-consecration of Coventry Cathedral in 1962, which was razed in a bomb raid in 1940.
“My theme is war and the suffering of war. Poetry is in suffering... All a poet can do today is: warn.” Wilfred Owen
Britten composed a great deal of choral, chamber, symphonic and instrumental works, particularly for piano and strings. Britten’s stage work is also extensive, including 12 operas and several ballets. One of his most contentious yet popular operas is Peter Grimes from 1945.
for: Unison Choir and Piano
Choir score
Item no.: 486456
We are the Darkness in the Heat of the Day
for: Mixed Choir [SMezATB] a Cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 900858
Erstausgabe
for: Voice (high), piano
Music score
Item no.: 895189
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 892645
7 Songs
for: Voice (medium), piano
Music score
Item no.: 198557
from Orpheus Britannicus
for: Voice (high), orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 867832
Harmonia Sacra
for: Voice (high), piano
Music score
Item no.: 901782
Die Oper aus Lets make an Opera . An Entertainment for Young People
for: Soloists, Choir, String Quartet, Piano [4-Händig] and Percussion
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 864643
for: Piano 4 hands
Music score
Item no.: 791563
From Gloriana
for: Brass band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1143813
for: Tenor, Horn, String Orchestra
Score
Item no.: 892202
The Chester Miracle Play
for: Soli [ABarB], Narrator, Children's Choir and Instruments
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 911735
for: Accordion orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 621643
Comic opera in 3 acts
Lyric book
Item no.: 1341122
Sammy's Bath
for: Unison Choir and Piano
Choir score
Item no.: 894869
for: Cello, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1211846
for: Orchestra and Clarinet Soloists
Score
Item no.: 1212002
The Night Song
for: Unison Choir and Piano
Choir score
Item no.: 868369
for: Choir
Score
Item no.: 1031991
set of string parts
for: Symphonic orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 1212310
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1212087
Words anon. from The Fairy Queen Z 629/22
for: Contralto, Tenor and Piano
Book
Item no.: 888478
Hawkes Pocket Scores HPS 953
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 897259
Suite of Five Movements from Rossini
for: 2 pianos
Music score
Item no.: 896869
Suite of Five Movements from Rossini
for: Symphonic orchestra
Book
Item no.: 910531
from Gloriana
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 365203
Choral Dance No. 2 from "Gloriana"
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 791559
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1212006
for: Voice (soprano), orchestra
Score
Item no.: 894935
Hymnen und Choräle
for: Children's Choir and Ensemble
Set of parts
Item no.: 906800
from "Ceremony of Carols"
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 791729
for: Opera
Buch
Item no.: 1137043
for: Brass band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1026824
from Two Ballads
for: 2 Voices and Piano
Book
Item no.: 867599
Music from the film
for: Voice and Piano or Piano Solo
Book
Item no.: 904554
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 903869
for: Women's choir (SSAA) a cappella
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 911656
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Choir score
Item no.: 1031913
12 Children's Songs with piano accompaniment
for: Children's Choir and Piano
Book
Item no.: 895964
from "The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra"
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 791728
for: Symphonic orchestra
Book
Item no.: 1212371
From The 12Th To The 20Th Century 13-18
for: Recorder
Music score
Item no.: 863667
Nos. 1-6
for: 2 - 4 Recorders [SATB]
Book
Item no.: 895100
aus Prince of the Pagodas
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 910319
for: Brass band
Score
Item no.: 1026823
for: Brass band
Set of parts
Item no.: 1026822
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 897402