The Children's Crusade (Britten) — Choristers of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford

The boy choristers of the choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, under the direction of Stephen Darlington, perform the ballad 'The Children's Crusade', with music by Benjamin Britten and words by poet Bertolt Brecht.

Described by Britten as 'a very grisly piece,' his setting for treble voices of 'The Children's Crusade' tells the story of a group of 55 orphaned children trudging through war-ravaged Poland near the start of the Second World War. The children, who come from a multitude of backgrounds and experiences, band together and journey through the land in search of a place of peace and safety— a land of 'no more fire, no more thunder; nothing like the land they're leaving'.

In the dead of a bitter winter, the five-and-fifty children disappear into a raging blizzard and are never seen again, leaving behind only a plea for help written in a 'childish hand' and the half-strangled dog who had become their companion when they, though starving, could not bring themselves to eat him.

In the end, the text suggests, the compassion of the children saved no-one; even the dog starved.

The text and context of the piece are mildly disturbing, and I have paired them here with photographs—photographs of children of war and conflict—that may be considered upsetting. I felt it important to do so, just as I felt it important that this piece should be heard.

The text in full doesn't fit in this description. Should you wish to read them, the lyrics are available here: http://tinyurl.com/bbrittencrusade

Category:

Music

Tags:

• cathedral choir
• abbey choir
• chapel choir
• boychoir
• boy choir
• boy treble
• wandsworth school boys choir
• boy soprano
• boy alto
• boy chorister
• chorister
• treble
• benjamin britten
• treble solo
• war
• famine
• boys choir

[1finch2finch]

@boyscout403 I wish I could say.

[boyscout403]

This is the way we treat the future leaders of our planet: Jew, South African, etc. WHY!

[1finch2finch]

@zskfan100 Thanks very much. I appreciate the feedback and am glad that you enjoyed this one!

[zskfan100]

Very impressively your information on the video and - of course - the choir !