Benjamin Britten was only 21 years old when he composed his arrangement of the Corpus Christi Carol for voice and piano. It was published as part of his collection A Boy was Born (Variation V). Unlike the robust, orchestral Britten of Peter Grimes , this carol is intimate, modal, and chillingly sparse.

Benjamin Britten’s setting of the is one of the most haunting and enduring pieces in the English choral tradition. Originally part of his larger work A Boy was Born (Op. 3) in 1933, this carol has since become a standalone masterpiece, celebrated for its enigmatic lyrics and sparse, ethereal melody. Origins and Early Composition

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This is the crucial question. Because the work was published in 1934 by Boosey & Hawkes, it remains under in most jurisdictions (copyright lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years; Britten died in 1976, so copyright expires in 2046).

To truly appreciate Britten’s composition, one must first understand the source material. The text of the Corpus Christi Carol is one of the oldest surviving English carols. It dates back to the 15th century, found in a manuscript known as the Fayrfax Book (c. 1500), a collection of choral music compiled by the musician Robert Fayrfax.