In 1945, after visiting the liberated Nazi concentration camp Bergen-Belsen, Benjamin Britten was moved by the horrors he witnessed to compose a song cycle for tenor or soprano voice with piano called THE HOLY SONNETS OF JOHN DONNE OP.35. Britten set 9 of 19 sonnets by the English poet John Donne, who lived from 1572-1631. Today’s Beautiful Music is a 1947 studio recording featuring the composer performing in accompaniment to his partner, tenor Peter Pears. There is also a link below to the text of all 19 of Donne’s Holy Sonnets.