Benjamin Britten: The Turn of the Screw

Patricia Howard

Cambridge University Press, Sep 19, 1985 - Music - 164 pages

This book is designed to introduce the non-specialist music lover to Britten's opera, The Turn of the Screw. The opening chapters by Vivien Jones and Patricia Howard deal with the literary source of the opera Oames's novella), the structure of the libretto, and the technique by which a short story was transformed into an opera. The central chapter, on the musical style and structures of the opera, includes an account of the composition process deduced from early sketches of the work by John Evans, an analysis of the unique form of the opera with a more detailed examination of the last scene by Patricia Howard, and an account of the significance and effect of the orchestration by Christopher Palmer. Finally, Patricia Howard traces the stage history of the work, from its initial reception in Venice in 1954, through some seminal reinterpretations in the 1960s to its present established position in the repertoire. The book is generously illustrated and there is also a bibliography and discography.

Contents

• the music: 63
• The Turn of the Screw in the theatre: 126
• Notes: 150
• Bibliography: 159

About the author

Howard is Lecturer in Music, The Open University.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Benjamin Britten: The Turn of the Screw; Cambridge Opera Handbooks
• Editor: Patricia Howard
• Compiled by: Patricia Howard
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1985
• ISBN: 0521283566, 9780521283564
• Length: 164 pages
• Subjects: Biography & Autobiography / Composers & Musicians; Music / Genres & Styles / General; Music / Genres & Styles / Opera