1920-1972
Manuscripts of Britten's writings, including articles, programme notes, obituaries, tributes and drafts of speeches, and a small number of private writings (mock poems, juvenilia and games).
This collection may have been assembled after Britten’s death by Rosamund Strode c.1980-1990. Material has been gathered together from various parts of the the Britten-Pears Foundation archive’s holdings: this includes items designated by Britten ‘Miscellaneous papers’ and a folder of items inscribed by Imogen Holst ‘Ben’s programme notes’; material was also gathered from sources including the Britten correspondence collection and the Elizabeth Mayer collection. Acquisition source has been noted at file or item level where possible.
Many of the items in this collection are published in Paul Kildea, 'Britten on Music' (OUP 2003), a compilation of Britten’s writings. Where items are reproduced in 'Britten on Music' this is noted in their catalogue record.
Items not reproduced elsewhere, for which the Britten Pears Foundation holds the copyright, are available to view digitially in this catalogue.
See also:
Britten Pears Transcripts (for transcripts of interviews given by Britten). Also see Kildea’s 'Britten on Music' for writings by Britten from outside this collection.
5 boxes
Archive
https://www.bpacatalogue.org/archive/BBW-2
