Britten Thematic Catalogue

Manuscript Sources

1. The owl - 3 items

   Title	The owl
   Subtitle	For voice and piano
   RefNo	BBM/the_owl
   Date	6 May-16 Jun 1929
   Description	Text from 'The owl' by Alfred Lord Tennyson.
   Extent	3 items

   1. Holographs - 3 items

      Title	Holographs
      RefNo	BBM/the_owl/1
      Date	6 May-16 Jun 1929
      Extent	3 items

      1. Composition draft - 1 manuscript; 2 pages [1r-2r]

         Title	Composition draft
         Subtitle	Complete
         RefNo	BBM/the_owl/1/1
         Date	6 May 1929
         Description	Composition draft with date, annotations and signatures. The draft finishes on page 1v but some extra workings can be found on page 2r.
         Extent	1 manuscript; 2 pages [1r-2r]
         PhysicalDescription	Pencil; 23.2 x 31.1 cm. Paper manufacturer's catalogue No. = RC1.

      2. Composition draft - 1 manuscript; 1 page [1r and 1v]

         Title	Composition draft
         Subtitle	Incomplete
         RefNo	BBM/the_owl/1/2
         Date	between 6 May-16 Jun 1929
         Description	Draft with text in the first four bars only and very different musical material, to other sources for this piece, throughout. Britten has added a large 'X' to the top righthand corner of page 1r. The material on the top three systems of page 1v is not part of this source.
         Extent	1 manuscript; 1 page [1r and 1v]
         PhysicalDescription	Pencil; 26.1 x 35.6 cm. Shares a volume with other sources. See Related Records.

      3. Fair copy - 1 manuscript; 2 pages [1r-2v]

         Title	Fair copy
         Subtitle	Complete
         RefNo	BBM/the_owl/1/3
         Date	6 May-16 Jun 1929
         Description	Fair copy with dates and signatures.
         Extent	1 manuscript; 2 pages [1r-2v]
         PhysicalDescription	Black ink; 23.2 x 31 cm. Paper manufacturer's catalogue No. = RC1. See Title Page of Collected Volume.
         TitlePageOfCollectedVolume	'[signature] / THE OWL / Alfred Lord Tennyson / Set to music, May 6th-June 16th 1929, / By / [signature] / LOWESTOFT SUFFOLK / HOLT NORFOLK'.