This oratorio was Tippett's artistic and emotional response to the events that led to the "Kristallnacht" pogrom of November 1938. Tippett used as his formal and historical models the Bach Passions and Handel's Messiah. Tippett's use of the spiritual serves as equivalent for the Lutheran chorale of the Bach's time. By 1941, when Tippett had completed the composition of his oratorio, the practicalities of staging a performance during wartime were difficult to say the least. However, through the direct agency of his lifelong friends and professional colleagues, Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears, the work was performed in 1944, with Pears himself as tenor soloist.

Tippett's decision to extract the four Ritual Dances from his opera The Midsummer Marriage as a self-contained concert suite reflects the fact that the medium of dance was always present in his conception of the opera. From the start, there was to be an interaction within the opera between the real world and the world of mythology, partly Greek, partly Celtic.

Contents: Steal away · Nobody knows · Go down, Moses · By and by · Deep river.

Five Spirituals, the original world-famous Spirituals set by Tippett in his best loved work A Child Of Our Time, newly arranged for male voice choir by one of the leading British conductors in this field. Steal Away · Nobody Knows · Go down, Moses · By and By · Deep River

Part I · 1. Chorus · 2. The Argument. Alto solo · 3. Scena: Chorus and Alto Solo · 4. The Narrator. Bass Solo · 5. Chorus of the Oppressed · 6. Tenor Solo · 7. Soprano Solo · 8. A Spiritual: Chorus and Soli · Part II · 9. Chorus · 10. The Narrator. Bass Solo · 11. Double Chorus of Persecutors and Persecuted · 12. The Narrator. Bass Solo · 13. Chorus of the Self-righteous · 14. The Narrator. Bass Solo · 15. Scena: The Mother, the Uncle and Aunt, and the Boy. Solo Quartet · 16. A Spiritual. Chorus and Soli · 17. Scena: Duet, Bass and Alto · 18. The Narrator. Bass Solo · 19. The Terror. Chorus · 20. The Narrator. Bass Solo · 21. A Spiritual of Anger. Chorus and Bass Solo · 22. The boy sings in his Prison. Tenor Solo · 23. The Mother. Soprano Solo · 24. Alto Solo · 25. A Spiritual. Chorus and Soprano Solo · Part III: 26. Chorus · 27. Alto Solo · 28. Scena: Bass Solo and Chorus · 29. General Ensemble. Chorus and Soli · 30. A Spiritual. Chorus and Soli

For children's choir and 3 recorders (SSA).

Children's choir and 3 recorders.

Mixed choir (SATB/SATB), soloists (SATB) and orchestra.

Piano reduction for 2 pianos.

These four charming instrumental pieces are the preludes to a cantata Tippett wrote in 1958 for Badminton School, celebrating the seasons of the year. Each prelude is based on a traditional melody and the simplicity and directness of Tippett's settings makes them ideal for young or amateur players. Score only.

A. Lewis: Song "Oh, journeyman" · S. Keyes: The Heart's Assurance " Oh never trust the heart's assurance" · A. Lewis: Compassion "She in the hurling night" · A. Lewis: The Dancer "'He's in his grave" · S. Keyes: Remember your Lovers "Young men walking the open streets

Premiered at Covent Garden Opera in 1962, the opera takes place in the ancient kingdom of Troy when Priam was king.

SATB chorus, organ.

Souvenir portfolio of an exhibit on the life of Michael Tippett. It features photos, writings, articles, letters, posters, a chronology, discography and much more.