布瑞頓音樂的英格蘭內涵－兼論作品《英格蘭民謠組曲》（Suite on English Folk Tunes）

Abstract

In 1950s ＂Great Britain＂, the Empire may be adversely affected by international situation and at this point, also was sensitive response to the national and ethnic identification crisis as well as the cultural, moral and political approval crisis. English composers may get development teams pointed in the right direction different from European art and music, and their works reflect the prevailing environment and trend of glory back to the past. The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, at the critical instant the concept of ＂Now and England＂ was appeared. Arts and music made every effort to strive to take a self line, such as ＂Englandism＂ in literature or ＂Englishness＂ in music. From this point of view we might understand the development of music in England, in addition, the purpose of the searching, questioning, and arguing is to find the facts in Benjamin Britten's (1913-1976) potential imagery. This paper discusses Britten's last orchestral work ＂Suite on English Folk Tunes＂ (A Time there was) as an example. The work has drawn its inspiration from the poems by Thomas Hardy (1840-1928), the third of which 'Before Life and After' gives an idea, and any material of composition in the choice had been built by two contrasting themes in each movement of this suite. In this orchestral work, the traditional arrangement may be rejected, and considers using modern techniques instead. The work radiates the dualism between enthusiasm and steadiness, through which the folk tunes touch the hearts of people in England deeply.