Oliver Cromwell

Benjamin Britten’s arrangement of this Suffolk Folksong is a real tongue twister and sure to raise a few giggles in rehearsal and performance! The piece is dedicated to Christopher Mayer who was a child that Britten met whilst living in America. This piece is a gift from Britten’s home of Suffolk, to his young American pen-pal, upon his return in 1942.

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Resources

  1. Telling a Story with Song

  2. Following Folk Footsteps

  3. Breathing and Airflow

  4. Performance Skills

  5. Dynamics

  6. Diction: Vowels

  7. Tempo, Pulse, Counting

  8. black and white image of young man with short hair playing the piano and looking intensely at the camera

    Britten's Early Works

  9. Britten's Impact

  10. Britten's Childhood

  11. Britten's Music for Children

Credits

Music by:
Benjamin Britten
Text by:
Trad.

Performance track

:
Jubilee Opera Chorus
Conductor:
Dominic Peckham
Accompanist:
Nathan Williamson

Song Details

Genre:
Folksong
Tempo:
Lively and Forceful. Crotchet = 160
Time Signature:
2/4 and 6/8
Key Signature:
Eb Major
Tonality:
Major
Range:
Eb4 - Eb5
Piano Supporting Melody:
No