Sinfonietta (Britten)
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Benjamin Britten's Sinfonietta was composed in 1932, at the age of 18, while he was a student at the Royal College of Music. The sinfonietta was first performed in 1933 at The Ballet Club, London conducted by Iris Lemare.[1] It was published as his Op. 1 and dedicated to his teacher Frank Bridge.
The work was originally scored for five winds and five strings: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, two violins, viola, cello and double bass. In February 1936, Britten revised the score for a small chamber orchestra with two horns and a small string section, which was only performed once during his lifetime. This version is available on hire from Boosey and Hawkes.[2]
