Canticle III - Still falls the rain for tenor, horn and piano, Op 55

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The third of Britten's five canticles was written following the Blitz raids on London in 1940. It is an extremely dark work, full of the disillusions of World War II and the failure of man, but also suggests salvation through the unconditional love of God. The canticle features a set of free recitatives for voice and piano based on the recurring refrain 'Still falls the rain', with dramatic interludes for horn and piano. The two parts come together at the end, representing the unity of God and man. Composer: Benjamin Britten Performer: Robin Tritschler (Tenor) Performer: Alec Frank-Gemmill (Horn) Performer: Simon Lepper (Piano) Recording date: 02 October 2014 Date of broadcast: 23 December 2014