The composer Benjamin Britten passed away of heart failure on this day in 1976. He was sixty-three years old.
Along with Gustav Holst and Ralph Vaughan Williams, Britten is one of the best-known and most well-regarded twentieth-century British composers. His work appears in other media to this day, with several pieces notably showing up in Wes Anderson’s film Moonrise Kingdom.
His works geared towards younger or more amateur audiences such as The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra or Simple Symphony make him a mainstay for symphonic newcomers. As well as these, he also wrote a great deal of vocal work, including some notable requiems.
Britten was also a noted conductor and pianist, performing and conducting others’ work as well as his own.
Thank you for your music, Mr. Britten!
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- Edit on 2020-12-03: Added information on Moonrise Kingdom. Formatting updated.