Peter Grimes Research Papers

Composed in 1945 Benjamin Britten’s Peter Grimes was his first opera to receive popular success and is still widely performed in the United Kingdom and across the world at large. The opera is based on a narrative poem Peter Grimes from George Crabbe’s book The Borough and follows the life of the title character, a misanthropic fisherman Peter Grimes. Peter Grimes is portrayed as lone fisherman with a questionable reputation in the coastal village where he lives and is naturally the first suspect on everyone’s mind when one of his apprentices turns up dead. Despite the public outcry the coroner determines that the apprentices’ death was not the fault of Peter Grimes and his name is cleared. Defying those who suggest it would be a good idea not to take on another apprentice Peter Grimes does go and find another
At this point the investigation into the death of Peters first apprentice has just concluded and it is the early morning of the following day. This also follows a musical duet between Peter and his love interest Ellen as they lament the negative reputation he has around their village. The musical aspect is rather peaceful with the higher voices of the orchestra playing the melody, however there are periodic interruptions from the rest of the orchestra, perhaps hinting at the ultimate conclusion of Peter’s love and ultimate fate.
Sunday Morning is the second interlude and this takes place between the first and second act. The music reflects the events of the village as church bells can be heard in the musical notation, particularly the horns. This takes place at an important junction in the plot as this is just before Ellen confronts John about the suspicious bruises he has around his neck, which ultimately culminates with Peter striking Ellen. The music here happens just before this incident and its peaceful character provides a stark contrast to the unfortunate events about to