British Music- Arnold and Britten

Arnold and Britten Overview

Malcolm Arnold and Benjamin Britten were both influential British composers in the Western Classical Tradition since 1912.
Arnold was primarily known for his large-scale orchestral works, including nine symphonies.
Britten’s composition style was versatile, producing a wide range of works that include opera, choral music, solo vocal pieces and orchestral compositions.

Arnold’s music incorporates tonality, melody and harmony.
He often used jazz elements in his compositions, a notable example being his work “Four Scottish Dances”.
A key characteristic of Arnold’s music is his use of diverse instrumental colours and effective orchestration.
Arnold’s Post-Romantic style has been noted for its lyrical melodies and vibrant rhythmic energy.

Arnold’s Symphony No. 5 is notable for exploring different emotional states, using a range of techniques like polyphony and syncopation.
His piece “Four Scottish Dances” is another well-known work that illustrates his use of local folk tunes and cultural influences.

Britten’s work often addressed social and political themes, and is characterised by masterful text setting and innovative use of orchestration.
A distinctive element of Britten’s music is his use of the interval of a third, either major or minor, which he used as a thematic device in many of his works.
Britten was a leading figure in the revival of English opera in the mid-20th century, bringing modern themes and a distinctive musical language to the genre.

“Peter Grimes” is one of Britten’s most famous operas, touching on themes of societal norms, loneliness, and mistreatment.
The “War Requiem” is an internationally acclaimed choral-orchestral work that combines the Latin mass for the dead with war poems by Wilfred Owen.