1. Benjamin Britten was born in 1913 in Suffolk, England. He was a talented pianist by age 12.

In his
20s he worked as a composer for theatre, cinema and radio. By the mid 40s he was very well
acclaimed on the world’s orchestral stage. During the latter years of his life he complained of
pain in his left arm while he was conducting. This was due to a bacterial infection that damaged
his heart earlier in life. After receiving heart surgery, he was wheeled to his last performance,
Death in Venice, in 1973. He died due to heart related issues in 1976.

2. I like the brass section. Especially the trumpets. They bring so much energy the mix. And I am a
big fan of Louie Armstrong (I feel like it is a crime to be a KC native and not be into jazz). I also
like the cellos. They are very calming. I have also heard about Yo Yo Ma and his seen videos of
him playing to cello. There is also a duo called Two Cellos that I really like.

3. I like this piece because it is insightful for a person like me who knows who knows nothing about
music. I can listen to each group of instruments and get an idea for what they are each like. Each
variation is simplistic enough for an outsider to see the immense amount of talent on display. I
very much underappreciate these artists and their skill, since I have never played an instrument.

Benjamin Britten. (2020, November 30). Retrieved January 26, 2021, from
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Benjamin-Britten

Britten Biographical Information. (n.d.). Retrieved January 26, 2021, from

http://www.cco.caltech.edu/~tan/Britten/britbio.html#:~:text=Benjamin%20Britten%20was
%20born%20in,his%20lack%20of%20musical%20guidance