American Overture, An

1941

"The piece comprises a processional of festive figures over a slow walking bass leading to a clipped perky allegro, before returning in grandiose apotheosis; its slyness of harmonic slide-slipping and its skill in working up a structure from the slightest material are absolutely typical of the early manner which set elderly critics tut-tutting over Mr Britten's incorrigible 'cleverness'." Bayan Northcott, The Sunday Telegraph, 26 February 1984