TIPPETT, (Sir) Michael
b London, 2 January 1905
d 8 January 1998
He studied composition at the Royal College of Music. After a few years as a school teacher he retreated to a small village in Surrey to compose. In 1940 he was appointed director of music at Morley College. He withdrew or destroyed all his compositions written before 1935, deeming them unworthy. His pacifist convictions resulted in his being imprisoned for three months in 1943. In 1951 he left Morley College, and apart from lecturing and broadcasting has since devoted himself solely to writing. He is a CBE and has been honoured with doctorates by several universities. He was knighted in 1966 and made a Companion of Honour in 1979.
1934-5 (29-30)
String Quartet No 1 in A major (revised 1943)
1936-7 (31-2)
Piano Sonata (revised 1942)
1937 (32)
A Song of Liberty
1938-9 (33-4)
Concerto for double string orchestra
1939-41 (34-6)
A Child of Our Time, oratorio
Fantasia on a Theme by Handel, for piano and orchestra
1941-2 (36-7)
String Quartet No 2
1942 (37)
The Source and The Windhover, madrigals
1943 (38)
Boyhood's End, song cycle
Plebs angelica, motet for double chorus
1944 (39)
Symphony No 1 (1944-5)
The Weeping Babe, motet for soprano solo and chorus
1945-6 (40-1)
String Quartet No 3
1946 (41)
Little Music, for strings
1947-52 (42-8)
The Midsummer Marriage, opera
1948 (43)
Suite in D major
1950-1 (45-6)
Heart's Assurance, song cycle for high voice and piano
1952 (47)
Dance Clarion Air, madrigal
1953 (48)
Fantasia Concertante on a Theme by Corelli, for strings
Divertimento for chamber orchestra, Sellingers Round (1953)
Piano Concerto (1953-5)
1955 (50)
Sonata for four horns
1956-7 (51-2)
Symphony No 2
1958 (53)
King Priam, opera (1958-61)
Crown of the Year, for chorus and orchestra
Prelude, Recitative and Aria, for flute, oboe and harpsichord
1961 (56)
Three Songs for Achilles, for voice and guitar
Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis
1962 (57)
Concerto for orchestra (1962-3)
Praeludium, for brass, bells and percussion
Piano Sonata No 2, in one movement
Songs for Ariel
1965 (60)
Vision of St Augustine, for baritone, choir and orchestra
The Shires Suite, for choir and orchestra (1965-70)
1966-70 (61-5)
The Knot Garden, opera
1970 (65)
Symphony No 3, with soprano soloist (1970-2)
Songs for Dov, for tenor solo and small orchestra
1972-3 (67-8)
Piano Sonata No 3
1973-6 (68-71)
The Ice Break, opera
1976-7 (712)
Symphony No 4
1977-8 (72-3)
String Quartet No 4
1978-9 (73 4)
Triple Concerto, for violin, viola, cello and orchestra
1980 (75)
Wolf Trap Fanfare, for three trumpets, two trombones and tuba
1980-3 (75-8)
The Mask of Time, for soli, chorus and orchestra
1983 (78)
Festal Brass with Blues, for brass ensemble
See also MusicWeb Tippett page