ABSTRACT
The three books of British folksongs were written for Benjamin Britten's recitals with Peter Pears. The composer always had very strong feelings about all his performers, not just his chosen tenor. Britten also had very determined opinions regarding instrumentalists. His admiration of Russian precision and virtuosity is discussed. The stroke Britten suffered during major heart surgery meant that in the last years of his life he was no longer able to accompany Pears, which left the tenor without a regular recital partner when still at the height of his powers. Britten's music for harp is a very special case. It arose from his admiration for the work of Osian Ellis, the great harpist, who is an accomplished composer, singer, and authority on Welsh folk music. Schumann's debt to the poetry of Thomas Moore has already been noted. Among German composers the names of Carl Maria von Weber, Felix Mendelssohn, Adolf Jensen, Peter Cornelius and Paul Hindemith may be added.
