Rejoice in the Lamb

The text for the cantata is excerpted from a poem entitled "Jubilate Agno", by Christopher Smart. The eighteenth century poet was in an insane asylum when he wrote it, and although there is a delightful sense of madness in the poem, the religious character of the work is the most striking. The manuscript is not complete, and the fragments of it were not found until 1939. Their discoverer, William Stead, published them under the name "Rejoice in the Lamb." Britten chose ten of the most celebratory and religious sections to set to music.

The piece is scored for male choir, organ, percussion, and four soloists.

Smart was a prolific writer; he had published verse in Gentleman's Magazine, and had many works to his name. In 1756 he had an illness which could have led to his first breakdown. From 1757-63 he lived in various asylums. Among the symptoms of his insanity were his sudden compulsions to pray in public, at any time or place. His marriage collapsed in 1759.

Smart wrote a great deal of his poetry while insane; however, it didn't help him survive financially. In 1770 he was arrested for debt, and imprisoned in the King's Bench Prison, where he died, 20 May 1771, at the age of 49.

"After being six times arrested: nine times in a spunging house: and three times in the Fleet-Prison I am at last happily arrived at the King's Bench."
-Christopher Smart