Tippett, Michael Kemp (1905 - 98)

[Pulcinella]

Listening at last to Brabbins' recording of no.3 which I downloaded this morning (without any help from the "Hyperion Download Manager" software, which needs a bit of a rethink IMO). It's very refreshing to hear the orchestra in a more realistic balance and with a deeper perspective than in the older recordings (so that for example the third movement doesn't turn into a piano concerto), though it would have been nice if the engineers had applied the same principle to the voice, which is much too upfront - and much too vibrato-laden and expressively unsubtle. Notwithstanding all that, I think it will be my recording of choice from now on, until something better comes along, which it may not do in my lifetime I suppose. I'm not as concerned as Boilk is by the slower tempi in comparison with Davis - it does mean that everything is a lot more rhythmically secure. I don't think it would be impossible to achieve razor-sharp precision at faster tempi, but that would require more rehearsal and more recording takes than were available no doubt!



Well, that is kind of the whole point I think. The whole piece is to a great extent a challenge to listeners to make sense of why all of these confrontations and oppositions belong together, and why their lack of resolution, is in both structural and expressive terms, a more powerful and truthful artistic statement than would have been provided by a work where everything fits together in a readily consumable way. That may sound pretentious and/or contrived but it's actually an attempt to articulate something deeply and intuitively felt. What many people since its premiere have seen as the "problematic" quality of the 3rd is precisely what I find so valuable and inspiring in it.

You should still splash out on the BBC/Leppard/Barstow recording, Richard, if only for 'completeness'. As mentioned elsewhere, I too did not like the soloist in the Brabbins performance I heard (not sure now if it was a repeat of the live concert recording, or an early transmission of what became this new recording; Bryn probably kept track!).

[Richard Barrett]

You should still splash out on the BBC/Leppard/Barstow recording, Richard, if only for 'completeness'.

Yes I will.

[Bryn]

Yes I will.

Have you managed to listen to that Barstow/BBCSO/Leppard recording yet? I managed to get a reasonably priced copy which seems to play o.k. but from which the second movement of the Symphony fails to rip without serious glitches from around 12 minutes in, right through to the end. I have tried with both EAC and Sound Forge Pro 12, and get the same problems with each. I guess the error correction in my player must be working full out. It's perhaps ironic that a far-right Tory such a Leppard should make such a good fist of conducting Tippett's work.

[Richard Barrett]

Have you managed to listen to that Barstow/BBCSO/Leppard recording yet? I managed to get a reasonably priced copy which seems to play o.k. but from which the second movement of the Symphony fails to rip without serious glitches from around 12 minutes in, right through to the end. I have tried with both EAC and Sound Forge Pro 12, and get the same problems with each. I guess the error correction in my player must be working full out. It's perhaps ironic that a far-right Tory such a Leppard should make such a good fist of conducting Tippett's work.

That's a shame. (I mean about the ripping problem. Although it's also a shame that Raymond Leppard was a far-right Tory of course. I say "was" but maybe he's still among us...) No, I haven't yet acquired a copy of that. There are plenty of other Tippett items I need to catch up with. I've just been listening to The Ice Break via Youtube, I guess I'm going to have to get that CD at some point.

[ahinton]

it's also a shame that Raymond Leppard was a far-right Tory of course. I say "was" but maybe he's still among us...)

He is still with us; I've no idea what his political affiliations are now, though...

[Richard Barrett]

Now playing: The Rose Lake. I've listened to it a few times but I'm not sure I've really got it yet. Previously: Byzantium, which I found very beautiful. I don't know the poem really though, must take a closer look at that. BTW I was very taken with The Ice Break which I don't think I'd heard before. The libretto raised a few smiles but hey, I thought, as a Stockhausen aficionado I can handle it.

[Pulcinella]

Have you managed to listen to that Barstow/BBCSO/Leppard recording yet? I managed to get a reasonably priced copy which seems to play o.k. but from which the second movement of the Symphony fails to rip without serious glitches from around 12 minutes in, right through to the end. I have tried with both EAC and Sound Forge Pro 12, and get the same problems with each. I guess the error correction in my player must be working full out. It's perhaps ironic that a far-right Tory such a Leppard should make such a good fist of conducting Tippett's work.

Does that imply that you think it's a good performance then, Bryn?

I still haven't found the time to listen to the Brabbins and try to follow the score (and I won't tomorrow either: volunteer work, optician, choir!).

[Bryn]

Does that imply that you think it's a good performance then, Bryn?

I still haven't found the time to listen to the Brabbins and try to follow the score (and I won't tomorrow either: volunteer work, optician, choir!).

It's not a work I know particularly well but I found the performance more than acceptable to my ears. I will go back and listen to the Brabbins over the next few days to hear how if I respond differently. Oh, and u decided to try ripping the secobd movement of the 3rd using a different optical disc drive. This time it worked without a hitch.

[BBMmk2]

Now playing: The Rose Lake. I've listened to it a few times but I'm not sure I've really got it yet. Previously: Byzantium, which I found very beautiful. I don't know the poem really though, must take a closer look at that. BTW I was very taken with The Ice Break which I don't think I'd heard before. The libretto raised a few smiles but hey, I thought, as a Stockhausen aficionado I can handle it.

Tippett’s The Rose Lake is quite a sublime work. I think it’s my favourite Tippett work.

[gurnemanz]

BTW I was very taken with The Ice Break which I don't think I'd heard before. The libretto raised a few smiles but hey, I thought, as a Stockhausen aficionado I can handle it.

Thanks for reminder. We saw Ice Break at at ROH in 1977. Memories are a bit vague but I do remember it as an enjoyable and somewhat baffling opera experience. I should look it up on YouTube.

[Richard Barrett]

Today's listening so far: The Rose Lake again. Gradually getting more fascinated than puzzled by the way that (unlike his other large scale works) it's difficult to find much in the way of connecting threads between its diverse episodes. Of course, in other music this isn't a problem but experience with Tippett's symphonies led me to expect a particular kind of continuity that isn't really there, being replaced by a kind of drifting between more or less sharply defined sound-images. Today I shall be listening to at least one of the string quartets, another area of MT's work I don't really know.

[kea]

I think No. 4 is my favourite of the string quartets although I haven't listened to them in some time.

[ahinton]

I think No. 4 is my favourite of the string quartets although I haven't listened to them in some time.

His first five numbered ones are my favourites...

[Bryn]

His first five numbered ones are my favourites...

Come on. You know perfectly well that the withdrawn B flat was unnumbered.

[Pulcinella]

Today's listening so far: The Rose Lake again. Gradually getting more fascinated than puzzled by the way that (unlike his other large scale works) it's difficult to find much in the way of connecting threads between its diverse episodes. Of course, in other music this isn't a problem but experience with Tippett's symphonies led me to expect a particular kind of continuity that isn't really there, being replaced by a kind of drifting between more or less sharply defined sound-images. Today I shall be listening to at least one of the string quartets, another area of MT's work I don't really know.

The live Wigmore Hall set by the Heath Quartet is very fine indeed!