Three Two-Part Songs — (1932) SS and Piano

1. The Ride-by-nights 2. The Rainbow 3. The Ship of Rio

for boys' or girls'/women's voices and piano

Texts: Walter de la Mare

Publisher: Chester Music

Difficulty level: 1

These are three lovely songs making a really delightful set in a concert programme. They were originally called Three Studies in Canon and that says all that needs to be said about how these pieces are structured. Britten loved writing in canon and seemed to tease out the fun of having voices leading and following each other. Remember that fabulous three-part canon in the Ceremony of Carols: This little babe as one of the most brilliant examples.

These pieces are very straightforward for all participants - piano and voices and are ideal material for schools or for upper voice choirs looking for original material which lights a special touch paper.

Duration: 6 minutes

Paul Spicer, Lichfield, 2011