Tippett, Michael Kemp (1905 - 98)

[Boilk]

...my feelings about the Third Symphony are, I fear, unprintable - so a far more inconsistent period, for me.

I'm always puzzled that not a few Tippett fans are uncomfortable with the Third Symphony - the revelation of its inventiveness and emotional punch was what turned me onto him in the first place. I wonder whether if the final movement had been voiceless, people would have rather different things to say about the previous three? The finale's choice quotations of earlier movements in the textual discourse seem rather inspired to me and help unify what is admittedly a roller-coaster of a ride, more so than the Fourth.

Also somewhat unllikely but true, my introduction to Beeethoven's 9th was through this symphony ... just as my introduction to Brahms's 1st was through Henze's Tristan!

[teamsaint]

But, yes - Tippett as CotW would be wonderful. (Something else those Forumistas who bemoan the lack of broadcasts of his Music can not listen to.)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p020dp88

and some other interesting ( and possibly not so interesting ) bits and bobs to not listen to.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01t9t9c

[Barbirollians]

I am very fond of the Concerto for Orchestra but with the exception of A Child of Our Time I am with fhgl on Tippett's vocal works - very hard work in my experience to listen to .

[Pulcinella]

There was a comment in Saturday's Record Review in the discussion of the St John's Cambridge Argo set about the Mag and Nunc Tippett wrote for them: along the lines of 'still challenging for both performers and audience/congregation, though now in the standard repertoire of many cathedral choirs’, iirc.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I'm always puzzled that not a few Tippett fans are uncomfortable with the Third Symphony - the revelation of its inventiveness and emotional punch was what turned me onto him in the first place. I wonder whether if the final movement had been voiceless, people would have rather different things to say about the previous three? The finale's choice quotations of earlier movements in the textual discourse seem rather inspired to me and help unify what is admittedly a roller-coaster of a ride, more so than the Fourth.

Absolutely - I long found the central two Movements are amongst Tippett's finest Music, and the First Movement is remarkably powerful, too. But the finale - all the characteristics of the composer's vocal writing that I cannot, with the best will in the world, find any merit in; and the texts! Richard Barrett has argued eloquently in its defence, but - not for the want of trying (honest - I bought the score, and the Barstow/BBCNSO/Leppard recording to complement the Harper/LSO/Davis) - I still find it almost obscene in its triteness.

I think that you're right that the Forth is an "easier ride" than the Third; for me it's a greater work as a whole (even with the Solti recording, where the breathing effects are rather forward in the balance - like a dirty 'phone call: I imagine a Live performance with the breath sounds conveyed on speakers around the audience at a more subtle balance with the orchestra. Otherwise, I'd prefer to hear the composer's original Wind Machine.)

Also somewhat unllikely but true, my introduction to Beeethoven's 9th was through this symphony ... just as my introduction to Brahms's 1st was through Henze's Tristan!

I can't match that - but I first heard the "Fate" motif from the Ring via Shostakovich's Fifteenth.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

There was a comment in Saturday's Record Review in the discussion of the St John's Cambridge Argo set about the Mag and Nunc Tippett wrote for them: along the lines of 'still challenging for both performers and audience/congregation, though now in the standard repertoire of many cathedral choirs’, iirc.

I'd forgotten those works - they, and The Weeping Babe don't have those "Tippett fingerprints" that I can't connect with, and the Nunc Dimitis is particularly lovely. (I was going to post a youTube video here, but the only separate performance of the ND has some tooth-enamel-threatening tuning from the solo soprano, so here's the pair:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1Y9ysDQbuk

... and The Weeping Babe:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yahmy8un3gM

[Pulcinella]

I was present at a (very early?) Liverpool performance of Tippett S3: Harper/RLPO/Groves.
There must have been a match at Goodison Park that day as the headline in the Liverpool Echo shortly after was something like 'Harper hits the Blues'. (No idea who THAT Harper was; maybe a round ball expert can offer an explanation!).
I sent a copy to Sir Charles, and he was gracious enough to reply; it had amused him too.
Sadly, like ferney, I struggle once the Blues come in (and not because I'm a Liverpool team supporter!).

[teamsaint]

I was present at a (very early?) Liverpool performance of Tippett S3: Harper/RLPO/Groves.
There must have been a match at Goodison Park that day as the headline in the Liverpool Echo shortly after was something like 'Harper hits the Blues'. (No idea who THAT Harper was; maybe a round ball expert can offer an explanation!).
I sent a copy to Sir Charles, and he was gracious enough to reply; it had amused him too.
Sadly, like ferney, I struggle once the Blues come in (and not because I'm a Liverpool team supporter!).

I'm thinking it could be Joe Harper, scoring for Everton against Ipswich ( blues) in this away match ?

https://www.11v11.com/matches/ipswich-town-v-everton-24-march-1973-81996/

Seems to be the only game that fits the headline, though I could have missed one. Around the right time at any rate, I think ?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I was present at a (very early?) Liverpool performance of Tippett S3: Harper/RLPO/Groves.
There must have been a match at Goodison Park that day as the headline in the Liverpool Echo shortly after was something like 'Harper hits the Blues'. (No idea who THAT Harper was; maybe a round ball expert can offer an explanation!).
I sent a copy to Sir Charles, and he was gracious enough to reply; it had amused him too.

[Pulcinella]

I'm thinking it could be Joe Harper, scoring for Everton against Ipswich ( blues) in this away match ?

https://www.11v11.com/matches/ipswich-town-v-everton-24-march-1973-81996/

Seems to be the only game that fits the headline, though I could have missed one. Around the right time at any rate, I think ?

That does make sense, ts; excellent research.
I wonder if the RLPO has a performance archive; must check.
The Harper/LSO/Colin Davis recording was made in Brent Town Hall in October 1973, so the liner notes tell me; the first performance (same forces) was in June 1972.
All credit to Groves and the Liverpool forces for scheduling a performance so soon after the premiere.
Must have been home for the Easter break from uni.

PS: But I thought that Everton were the Blues (as well as the Toffees!).

[BBMmk2]

My favourite work is Tippett's The Rose Lake. Quite an ethereal sound world. I have Richard Hicox's cycle on Chandos. Needs must investigate further recordings.

[Serial_Apologist]

My favourite work is Tippett's The Rose Lake. Quite an ethereal sound world. I have Richard Hicox's cycle on Chandos. Needs must investigate further recordings.

Yes - an English latter day pastoral work about an African landscape maing it almost unique, inspirationwise, I would have thought.

[BBMmk2]

Yes - an English latter day pastoral work about an African landscape maing it almost unique, inspirationwise, I would have thought.

Very much so. In his Symphony No.4,namely the Solti, recording, the breathing I think, was superimposed, on to the mix, which I think spoilt the overall effect?

[Serial_Apologist]

Very much so. In his Symphony No.4,namely the Solti, recording, the breathing I think, was superimposed, on to the mix, which I think spoilt the overall effect?

I don't know either the third or fourth symphonies, Bbm. Something I must rectify sometime. And put it right!

[BBMmk2]

I don't know either the third or fourth symphonies, Bbm. Something I must rectify sometime. And put it right!

Can't go wrong with the Hickox recording