When I was a child, a teacher told me that Stravinsky wrote a 'Symphony of Psalms' because he was jealous of Benjamin Britten's 'War Requiem'. It wasn't until I became an adult that I found out the whole truth... Stravinsky did genuinely dislike Britten's "War Requiem'. He
Stravinsky:
The teacher in question and anybody who would describe themselves as a follower of Britten's music should not have felt offended by Stravinsky's comments; his vision of music was unique.
There is a certain degree of irony. While Britten's 'War Requiem' , in my opinion, is an exercise in sentimental tedium, Stravinsky's 'Symphony of Psalms' isn't a great visionary masterpiece either. The only crumb of comfort for Stravinsky is that his work falls well below par; but Britten's work as it was stated before is his
mocked the “Battle of Britten” sentiment which surrounded the premiere of the composer’s most public and popular workI think he was not keen on a return to an emphasis 'on subjectivism'. He hated the sentimental aspect of the work.
Stravinsky:
"Kleenex at the ready… one goes from the critics to the music, knowing that if one should dare to disagree with ‘practically everyone’, one will be made to feel as if one had failed to stand up for ‘God Save the Queen’.”He did write a 'Symphony of Psalms' in response to Britten's work but not out of jealousy but to show how the creative process could be both respectful but still retain a degree of 'objectivity' appropriate for the subject matter.
The teacher in question and anybody who would describe themselves as a follower of Britten's music should not have felt offended by Stravinsky's comments; his vision of music was unique.
There is a certain degree of irony. While Britten's 'War Requiem' , in my opinion, is an exercise in sentimental tedium, Stravinsky's 'Symphony of Psalms' isn't a great visionary masterpiece either. The only crumb of comfort for Stravinsky is that his work falls well below par; but Britten's work as it was stated before is his
most public and popular work.