01 February 2018
A 'new' Tippett symphony
Some music manuscripts in the British Library collections have made an important contribution to tonight's concert by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra at City Halls in Glasgow (also broadcast live on BBC Radio 3). On the programme is the first performance in over 80 years of Michael Tippett’s Symphony in B-flat. The piece was withdrawn by the composer and never published, but a new edition has been prepared (with the permission of the Tippett estate) from the only surviving sources here at the British Library – one recently catalogued score in Tippett’s own hand (MS Mus. 1757/2) and one prepared by a copyist in 1934 (Add MS 72010).
Title and dedication for Michael Tippett's unpublished Symphony in B-Flat. British Library, MS Mus. 1757/2
Tippett composed the symphony in 1933 shortly after studies with R.O. Morris and commentators have previously noted the strong influence of Sibelius in the structure and style of the piece. The composition also coincided with the Tippett’s work at Morley College, leading a course for unemployed professional musicians - some former ‘pit’ players from theatres and cinemas that no longer needed them. The orchestra formed from that course - the South London Orchestra - performed the symphony with Tippett conducting in 1934, after which it was revised. Ultimately Tippett became unhappy with it, considering it immature in comparison to his rapidly developing style. As a result the symphony was rejected and his next piece in that genre, completed in 1945, is the one he labelled his ‘no. 1’.
The autograph manuscript for this Symphony in B-flat was purchased by the British Library from the Michael Tippett Foundation in 2004 and joins a large collection of manuscripts relating to the composer here. The contents of these are listed in our online catalogue, but the links below will allow you to browse volume by volume.
Tippett collection part I (Add MS 61748-61804). 57 volumes, purchased 1980
Manuscripts of Sir Michael Tippett, covering 1934-1977
Tippett collection part II (Add MS 63820-63840). 21 volumes, purchased 1986
Manuscripts of Sir Michael Tippett, covering 1977-1983
Tippett collection part III (Add MS 71099-71103). 5 volumes, purchased 1992
Manuscripts of Sir Michael Tippett, covering 1988-1991
Tippett collection part IV (Add MS 72001-72065). 65 volumes, purchased 1994
Manuscripts and notebooks of Sir Michael Tippett, covering ca. 1923-1994
Tippett collection part V (Add MS 72066-72071). 6 volumes, purchased 1994
Early works, supplementing the collection above
MS Mus. 289-292. 4 volumes
Music manuscripts and correspondence of Sir Michael Tippett, covering 1939-[1990]
MS Mus. 1757. 6 volumes
Misc. manuscript material