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The Building of the House: Choral Score

$19.99 USD
$19.99 USD
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The Building of the House Cover Image
The Building of the House: Choral Score

The Building of the House: Choral Score

By Benjamin Britten

Item: 12-0571501516
$19.99
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Additional Details
Series: Faber Edition
Publisher: Faber Music
ISBN10: 0-571-50151-6
ISBN13: 978-0-571-50151-9
UPC: 9780571501519
SKU: 12-0571501516

More about this title

About the Composer: Benjamin Britten

Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) was a British composer whose gift for writing idiomatically for the human voice shaped twentieth-century choral music. He understood ensemble singing from the inside, composing works that are vocally grateful while remaining harmonically sophisticated and dramatically urgent. His output spans operas, song cycles, orchestral works, and choral literature, but his choral writing remains his most widely performed legacy in schools and concert halls.

Britten's approach to choral composition rejected both Victorian sentimentality and academic detachment. Instead, he sought directness: clear emotional intent, singable lines, and accompaniments that support rather than obscure the text. The Building of the House exemplifies this philosophy, combining technical craft with accessibility that rewards both rehearsal time and audience attention.

Why we love this

Britten's mastery of choral writing shines here: the harmonic language is modern without alienating singers, the text setting is natural, and the work builds genuine dramatic arc across its span. Programming this signals to your singers and audience that you're engaging with twentieth-century choral literature at its best rather than retreating to safer territory.

What to expect

The Building of the House unfolds with architectural precision and emotional weight. Britten constructs each section with care, allowing moments of tenderness to emerge alongside passages of collective force. The overall effect is one of purposeful creation, both literal and metaphorical.

Who it's for

This work suits choirs with solid ensemble experience and the vocal maturity to handle twentieth-century harmonic language. It works equally well in university choral programs, adult community choirs, and advanced high school ensembles that are ready to engage with substantial modern literature.

How to get the most out of it

  • Pay close attention to Britten's articulation and dynamic markings. They are not ornamental; they shape the character of each phrase and deserve literal execution during rehearsal.
  • Balance ensemble sound against textual clarity. Britten's harmonies are rich but never muddy if each voice part sings with consistent tone and precise intonation.
  • Observe the relationship between choir and accompaniment carefully. The score shows exactly when the accompaniment should support, double, or deliberately contrast the vocal lines.

How to use it

This choral score works as a centerpiece for a concert exploring twentieth-century British music, or as a standalone major work in a season dedicated to modern choral repertoire. Its substantial length and emotional substance mean it commands a program slot where it can breathe and make its full impact.

Skills your students will build

  • Reading twentieth-century harmonic language and chromatic voice leading
  • Executing precise dynamic and articulation control within complex textures
  • Balancing individual voice parts while maintaining choral blend in modern contexts
  • Sustaining focus and ensemble coherence across an extended work

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