Michael Tippett: A Bio-Bibliography

(Hardback)

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Description

This volume directs the user to information concerning the life and works of Sir Michael Tippett, widely recognized as one of this century's most significant composers. The book is divided into four main sections: a biography, an annotated list of works and performances, a discography and a bibliography. Five appendices provide additional information for the researcher including a chronological list of compositions, a classified list of published compositions, honours and awards won by the composer, ballet and television productions and resources available. The brief biography which begins the volume provides a source for basic factual information about Tippett's life. The works and performances section presents in one alphabetical sequence musical works by Tippett, including early unpublished compositions. Each citation includes information about year of composition, duration, genre, instrumentation, additional statements of responsibility, commissions and dedications, location of existing manuscripts, published editions and a selected list of performances. The discography contains commercial recordings of Tippett's music along with information about performers, date and place of recording and a chronological listing of all issues of the performance. Divided into three sections, the bibliography covers writings by Tippett, books and articles about Tippett and reviews of his works.

Reviews

Pertinent, substantive, and accessible information concerning Tippett's life and works. Theil (music librarian, UCLA) has divided the book into four main sections: a biography, an annotated list of works and performances, a discography, and an extensive bibliography.-Reference & Research Book News
Theil's annotated bibliography contains more than 1,000 listings of books, articles, catalogs, dissertations, and other sources concerning Sir Michael Tippett and his music. It is a basic reference work designed to direct users to all pertinent, substantive, and accessible information concerning the life and works of this composer' (pref.). The book is divided into four main sections: biography (9 pages), works and performances (83 items), discography (126 items), and the main bibliography (1,023 items). The annotations are generally brief but informative. Theil describes the biographical portion as purposely brief and nonevaluative because of the numerous biographies available. No book-length bibliography of Tippett's work has been presented until now, but shorter bibliographies may be found in Paul Andrews's Sir Michael Tippett: A Bibliography' (Brio 15, no. 2, 1978), David Matthews's Michael Tippett, and the exhibition catalog A Man of Our Time, Michael Tippett (London, 1977). Appendixes include a chronological list of compositions; a classified list of published compositions; honors and awards; ballet and television productions, and library and conference resources. The index is sparse--e.g., little subject searching is possible. Highly recommended both for extensive music collections and for small libraries wishing a single biographical/bibliographical source for Tippett.-Choice
"Pertinent, substantive, and accessible information concerning Tippett's life and works. Theil (music librarian, UCLA) has divided the book into four main sections: a biography, an annotated list of works and performances, a discography, and an extensive bibliography."-Reference & Research Book News
"Theil's annotated bibliography contains more than 1,000 listings of books, articles, catalogs, dissertations, and other sources concerning Sir Michael Tippett and his music. It is a basic reference work designed to direct users to all pertinent, substantive, and accessible information concerning the life and works of this composer' (pref.). The book is divided into four main sections: biography (9 pages), works and performances (83 items), discography (126 items), and the main bibliography (1,023 items). The annotations are generally brief but informative. Theil describes the biographical portion as purposely brief and nonevaluative because of the numerous biographies available. No book-length bibliography of Tippett's work has been presented until now, but shorter bibliographies may be found in Paul Andrews's Sir Michael Tippett: A Bibliography' (Brio 15, no. 2, 1978), David Matthews's Michael Tippett, and the exhibition catalog A Man of Our Time, Michael Tippett (London, 1977). Appendixes include a chronological list of compositions; a classified list of published compositions; honors and awards; ballet and television productions, and library and conference resources. The index is sparse--e.g., little subject searching is possible. Highly recommended both for extensive music collections and for small libraries wishing a single biographical/bibliographical source for Tippett."-Choice

Author Bio

GORDON THEIL is Music Librarian for technical services at the University of California, Los Angeles.