Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)

Ballad of Heroes (1939)

for tenor (or soprano) solo, choir and orchestra

  • General information
    • Composition date: 1939 - 1939
    • Duration: 15 mn
    • Publisher: Boosey & Hawkes
    • Opus: 14
    • Dedication: 'To Montagu and Enid Slater'
    • Libretto (details, author):

      Randall Swingler et W. H. Auden

Detailed formation
  • soloist: 1 solo soprano [ou ténor solo]
  • mixed choir
  • 3 flutes [ou 2] , 3 oboes [ou 2] , 3 clarinets [ou 2] , 3 bassoons [ou 2] , 4 horns, 5 trumpets [dont 3 hors de l'orchestre] , 3 trombones, 1 tuba, 2 percussionists, 1 harp, 1 timpani, 1 drum [hors de l'orchestre] , strings

Premiere information

  • Date: 5 April 1939
    Location:

    Londres, Queen's Hall, Festival of 'Music for the people'


    Performers:

    Constant Lambert, direction.

Table of contents

  1. Funeral March
  2. Scherzo (Danse of Death)
  3. Recitative and Choral
  4. Epilogue (Funeral March)