Benjamin Britten

Psalm 150 op. 67

for two part children's voices and instruments

Scoring: Treble instr 1, Treble instr II, bass instr, 2 perc (timps, sd or tamb, cymb, susp cym, trng, tamb or castanets), keyboard. Optional parts, transposed if necessary,for 2 cl; tpt, hn, trbn; va

Text: Psalm 150 in English

Publisher: Boosey & Hawkes

Difficulty level: 1-2

This setting of the great psalm of praise which concludes the Psalter is typical of Britten'scompositions for schools. It was composed for the centenary of Britten's own prep school - Old Buckenham Hall School (called South Lodge School when he was there) - which he attended between 1923 and '28. As can be seen from thescoring details above it is intended that as many children as possible can be involved in the performance by playing a variety of instruments which are not specifically detailed. So, there are two 'treble instrument' parts whichmight be anything from a recorder to a violin or flute and a 'bass instrument' which might be a 'cello or a bassoon - and so on. The voice parts divide into four (a canon at 'let everything that hath breath praise the Lord') butare basically in two parts and there is a great deal of unison singing.

As one might expect, Britten makes full use of the different forms of praise 28described in the verses of the psalm to colour his composition. Thedelightful, dancing 7/8 rhythm of 'Praise him with the sound of the trumpet' makes an irresistible, light-hearted and toe-tapping section before the culminatory 'Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord'. A Gloria gives thework a suitably climactic ending.

This is another brilliant, flexible and involving work for children. At only six minutes duration it can form a magical item in a school concert without the additional challenges ofscenery/choreography which some of his other works for young people can involve.

Duration: 6 minutes

Paul Spicer, Lichfield, 2011