Benjamin Britten: Purcell realisations

Three realisations of music by Henry Purcell. None of the manuscripts is dated.

1. Henry Purcell, 'The Golden Sonata' (Z 810), realised for two violins, cello and piano. Entitled 'Sonata IX', scored in pencil with Britten's signature on f. 1 (ff. 1-7v).

First performance: 21 November 1945, Wigmore Hall, London.

2. Henry Purcell, 'There's not a swain of the plain' (Z 587), scored in pencil, text over-written in blue ink, with Britten's initials: 'Purcell arr BB' (f. 8).

Text by Anthony Henley, inserted by Purcell (1693) into John Fletcher, Rule a Wife and Have a Wife (1624). Britten's arrangement was first performed by Britten and Peter Pears: 19 July 1943, Mayflower Barn, Jordans, Buckinghamshire.

3. Henry Purcell, 'Turn then thine eyes' (Z 425; text Anon). 'Purcell arr BB', scored in pencil (ff. 8v-9).

First performance (Britten and Pears): 13 March 1945, Salle de l'Ancien Conservatoire, Paris.

Restrictions to access apply please consult British Library staff

Digitised copy available on British Library Digitised Manuscripts: http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?ref=Add_MS_60626

A note in pencil on the fly leaf (by Philip Reed, 3 June 1987) states that the manuscript has been incorrectly bound and indicates what the sequence of folios should be.