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MS Mus. 1757/5

Record Id:

040-003379004

Hierarchy Root Ancestor Record Id:

032-003378082

MDARK:

ark:/81055/vdc_100046949526.0x000001

LARK:

SLARK:

Format:

ISAD(G)

Reference (shelfmark):

MS Mus. 1757/5

Title:

Michael Tippett: Various letters sent, including additional manuscript and printed material

Scope & Content:

Arranged alphabetically by addressee, letters and postcards from Tippett to various individuals: Louis Brilliard, David Cairns, Paul Crossley, Howard and Margaret Hartog, Evelyn Maude, Robert Ponsonby, Beate Ruhm von Oppen, Mischa Scorer, Alison Sherrington, and Mr Ward. A few letters to Crossley from Tippett's assistant, Michael Tillett, are also included. The final item is Tippett's autograph draft programme note [1940] for the Concerto for Double String Orchestra.

(f. 1) To Louis Brilliard. Postcard from Tippett (postmark 28 Jul 1960) inviting Brilliard to visit him at Wadhurst.
(f. 2) 'Michael Tippett compositeur sans frontière'. Cutting from Télérama No. 1814, p. 24 (17 Oct 1984) collected by Brilliard.
(f. 3) 'Musique à l'anglaise'. A further cutting from Télérama No. 2296, p. 116 (12 Jan 1994), also collected by Brilliard, regarding French production of The Knot Garden.
(f. 4) To David Cairns. Undated bespoke postcard [1978-9] from Tippett referring to composition of the Triple concerto. Originally sent within an envelope that has not survived, the card does not bear the addressee's name.
(f. 5) To David Cairns. Bespoke postcard from Tippett (25 Mar 1983). The card does not bear the addressee's name.
(f. 6) To Paul Crossley. 28 May 1973. Letter from 'Eric' congratulating Crossley on the first performance of Tippett's Piano Sonata No. 3 (Bath, 26 May 1973): 'Through yr friendship with Michael you've stimulated him to compose one of his best works; & you launched it, not only with complete technical mastery, but also with understanding and affection.'
(f. 7) To Paul Crossley. 6 Aug 1984. Letter from Michael Tillet, supplying a photocopy of the 3rd movement of Tippett's Piano Sonata No. 4: 'As you see there are several gaps'.
(f. 8) To Paul Crossley. 13 Aug 1984. Letter from Tillett, re-supplying 3rd movement: 'You'll see there are a few queries regards notes and rhythms - maybe you can decide from the original what you think they should be?'
(f. 9) To Paul Crossley. 14 Aug 1984. Letter from Tillett, supplying the 2nd movement of Piano Sonata No. 4.
(f. 10) To Paul Crossley. 5 Nov 1984. Letter from Tillett, supplying photocopy of the 4th movement of Piano Sonata No. 4 - 'as much as I've so far had' (from Tippett).
(f. 11) To Paul Crossley. Letter from Tillett dated 'Fri' only [Nov 1984]: 'Michael says I'll get the very end of it tomorrow'.
(f. 12). To Paul Crossley (to 'Paul & John'). Postcard from Tippett (postmark 1 Aug 1989) sent from Maria Wörth, Austria.
(f. 13). To Paul Crossley (to 'Paul & John'). Postcard from Tippett, 25 Feb 1990, sent from Hamilton Island, Queensland, Australia: 'Resting up now before N.Z. Festival'. Refers to performances of The Knot Garden and New Year (Suite).
(f. 14) To Paul Crossley (to 'Paul & John'). Postcard from Tippett, 14 Sep 1991, sent from Antibes, France.
(f. 15) To [Paul Crossley] - addressee not indicated. Postcard from Tippett, 17 Dec 1991, sent from Nocketts (in an envelope not retained by Crossley): 'Bill tells me the CD of The Ice Break is superb: singing & playing'. Ironically, Tippett reports that he has 'slipped on iced concrete & crashed; no bones, bad bruises'.
(f. 16) To Paul Crossley (to 'Paul & John). Undated postcard from Tippett (postmark illegible) sent from Gallipoli, Italy.
(f. 17) To 'Michael & Colin' at a London address. Undated postcard from Tippett (postmark illegible) found together with Tippett's postcards to Crossley. Sent from Antigua, West Indies.
(ff. 18-24). Seven postcards to Howard and Margaret Hartog [Margaret Kitchin]. Five postcards are dated (or have legible postmarks): 10 Apr 1973; 10 Jun 1977; 1 Nov 1977; 7 Jul 1980; 15 Jun 1987. Two postcards (ff. 23-4) are without date, sent from Mexico and from Greece.
(f. 25) Evelyn Maude. 19 Aug 1932 (postmark). Postcard from Tippett, sent from Czechoslovakia: 'We shall be back on Friday in London [...] look forward to a restful Saturday at The Copse' (i.e. Maude's address, in Oxted, Surrey).
(f. 26) Evelyn Maude. 21 Jun 1943. Letter from Tippett, written from Wormwood Scrubs Prison on official letter paper (including printed regulations governing communication 'between prisoners and their friends').
(ff. 27-8) Evelyn Maude. 5 Jul [1943]. Letter from Tippett, written from Wormwood Scrubs Prison on official letter paper (bifolium).
(ff. 29-30) Evelyn Maude. 19 Jul [1943]. Letter from Tippett, written from Wormwood Scrubs Prison on official letter paper (bifolium).
(ff. 31-2) Evelyn Maude. 16 Aug 1943. Letter from Tippett, written from Wormwood Scrubs Prison on official letter paper (bifolium).
(f. 33) Robert Ponsonby. 21 Jul 1980. Letter from Tippett, Nocketts.
(ff. 34-5) Robert Ponsonby. 15 Sep 1980. Bespoke card from Tippett with accompanying envelope.
(ff. 36-8) Robert Ponsonby. 'Sunday' [16 Nov 1980], bespoke card (f. 36) from Tippett with road map showing location of Nocketts Hill Farm on the verso, together with sheet (f. 37) of typed directions, and accompanying envelope (f. 38).
(f. 39) Robert Ponsonby. 'Tuesday' [summer 1981?], bespoke card from Tippett, referring to 'enjoying the splendid Prom season' and to finishing 'Part 1' of The Mask of Time.
(ff. 40-2) Robert Ponsonby. 27 Jul 1984. Letter (f. 40) from Tippett: 'I'm still somewhat aloft, on cloud 9, after that fine performance & marvellous reception'. Together with accompanying envelope (f. 41) and a detached envelope strip (f. 42) annotated by Tippett.
(ff. 43-4) Robert Ponsonby. 5 Mar 1986. Letter and accompanying envelope.
(f. 45) [Robert Ponsonby] - addressee not indicated. Undated postcard alluding to Canterbury Festival performances (28 Sep 1987) of Tallis, Spem in alium, and Tippett, The Vision of St Augustine 'The great Tallis had me soon in tears of joy'.
(f. 46) Robert Ponsonby. 26 Jul 1990. Letter from Tippett.
(f. 47) [Robert Ponsonby]. 15 Mar 1991. Postcard from Tippett, Nocketts.
(f. 48) Beate Ruhm von Opppen. 21 Feb 1950 (postmark). Postcard from Tippett, Oxted.
(f. 49) Beate Ruhm von Oppen. 23 Feb 1950. Postcard from Tippett, Oxted.
(f. 50) Beate Ruhm von Oppen. 31 Mar 1950. Postcard from Tippett, Oxted.
(f. 51) Beate Ruhm von Oppen. 3 May [1951]. Letter from Tippett, Oxted.
(f. 52) Beate von Oppen. [May 1950]. Undated letter from Tippett, [Oxted].
(ff. 53-5) Beate Ruhm von Oppen. 7 Jul 1950 (postmark). Letter (ff. 53-4) from Tippett, with envelope, written from 4 Crabbe St., Aldeburgh.
(f. 56) Beate Ruhm von Oppen. 9 Jul 1950 (postmark). Postcard from Tippett, Aldeburgh.
(ff. 57-8) Beate Ruhm von Oppen. [1951]. Letter from Tippett, Oxted, advising of new address (Tidebrook Manor, Wadhurst). Letter includes remarks on Jung: 'I have just got an extraordinary amount of good (I can't put it any other way) out of a long article of Jung on the Trinity! It sounds fantastic, but it really is so. It's really been helpful even for the opera.'
(ff. 59-60) Beate Ruhm von Oppen. 14 Aug 1951. Letter from Tippett, Tidebrook. The letter begins with remarks on Cesare Pavese, referring erroneously to his suicide as 'this year' (Pavese died 27 Aug 1950) - the Tidebrook address at the head of the letter confirms the date of the letter as 1951. 'I conduct Double Concerto at Prom on Friday week. Not broadcast.'
(f. 61) Beate Ruhm von Oppen. 13 Jan 1952 (postmark). Postcard from Tippett, Tidebrook.
(f. 62) Beate Ruhm von Oppen. 21 Aug 1952 (postmark). Postcard from Tippett, Morcote, Switzerland.
(f. 63) Beate Ruhm von Oppen. 7 Aug 1954 (postmark). Postcard from Tippett, Lamorna, Penzance.
(f. 64) Beate Ruhm von Oppen. 11 Aug 1954 (postmark). Lettercard from Tippett, Lamorna, Penzance.
(f. 65) Beate Ruhm von Oppen. 12 Aug 1954 (postmark). Postcard from Tippett, Lamorna, Penzance.
(f. 66) Beate Ruhm von Oppen. 10 Mar 1955 (postmark). Postcard from Tippett, [Tidebrook].
(f. 67) Beate Ruhm von Oppen. 22 Apr 1955 (postmark). Postcard from Tippett, [Tidebrook].
(f. 68) Beate Ruhm von Oppen. 1955 (postmark, month illegible). Postcard from Tippett, Tidebrook. 'I feel I'm set up for the autumn'.
(f. 69) Beate Ruhm von Oppen. 24 Aug 1956 (postmark, Tunbridge Wells). Postcard from Tippett.
(ff. 70-85) Beate Ruhm von Oppen. Three postcards and twelve letters from Tippett, each without date. All written from Tidebrook Manor, Wadhurst.
(f. 86) Cutting from The Tatler and Bystander (9 Feb 1955), pp. 229-30. Includes a brief report on The Midsummer Marriage, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and photograph of Tippett being congratulated by the Earl and Countess of Harewood. Cutting retained with the letters to Beate Ruhm von Oppen.
(ff. 87-126) ['Poets in a Barren Age']. Autograph draft narration script for the film Poets in a Barren Age, dir. Mischa Scorer (1974) for the 'One Pair of Eyes' series (BBC). The script was published in Tippett, Moving Into Aquarius (1974), pp. 148-56.
(f. 127) [Mischa Scorer]. 17 Dec 1982. Bespoke card from Tippett (addressee not indicated): 'I finished The Mask of Time yesterday at 4.30.'
(f. 128) [Mischa Scorer]. 21 May 1990. Letter from Tippett (addressee not indicated).
(f. 129) Mischa [Scorer]. 5 Aug 1991. Letter from Tippett.
(f. 130) Mischa & Ann [Scorer]. 9 Feb 1992. Postcard from Tippett, sent from Tobago.
(f. 131) [Mischa Scorer]. Undated letter from Tippett, Nocketts. Refers to Auschwitz.
(f. 132) Miss [Alison] Sherrington. 2 May 1966. Typed letter signed from Tippett, declining the suggestion to set Shelley's 'Prometheus Unbound': In fact I am engulfed in a third opera and that will be two or three years hard work.'
(f. 133) Mr Ward. 1 May 1946. Letter from Tippett, Oxted. Refers to meeting: Tippett 'would welcome a talk'.
(ff. 134-8) Autograph (pencil) programme note for Concerto for Double String Orchestra (1940). First performed 21 Apr 1940, Morley College, cond. Tippett. The programme note is drafted on the versos of information leaflets for two orchestral concerts at Wigmore Hall.

Collection Area:

Music Collections

Project / Collection:

Music Manuscripts

Hierarchy Record Ids:

032-003378082
040-003379004

Is part of:

MS Mus. 1757 : Michael Tippett: Miscellaneous Manuscripts and Related Material

MS Mus. 1757/5 : Michael Tippett: Various letters sent, including additional manuscript and printed material

Hierarchy:

032-003378082[0005]/040-003379004

Container:

View / search within Archive / Collection: MS Mus. 1757

Record Type (Level):

File

Extent:

1 vol. (138 ff.)

Digitised Content:

Languages:

English
French

Scripts:

Latin

Start Date:

1932

End Date:

1994

Date Range:

1932-1994

Era:

Access:

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User Conditions:

Former Internal References:

f. 132 Mus. Dep. 2012/25A
f. 133 Mus. Dep. 2014/28
ff. 1-3 Mus. Dep. 2011/18
ff. 134-8 Mus. Dep. 2012/25
ff. 18-24 Mus. Dep. 2004/18
ff. 25-32 Mus. Dep. 2004/18
ff. 33-47 Mus. Dep. 2004/18
ff. 4-5 Mus. Dep. 2004/18
ff. 48-86 Mus. Dep. 2007/45
ff. 6-17 Mus. Dep. 2005/20
ff. 87-131 Mus. Dep. 2006/28

Source of Acquisition:

ff. 1-3 donated by Louis Brilliard; ff. 4-5 purchased from Michael Tippett Foundation, through Otto Haas, 14 Jun 2004; ff. 6-17 purchased from Lisa Cox Music, 23 May 2005; ff. 18-47 purchased from Michael Tippett Foundation, through Otto Haas, 14 Jun 2004; ff. 48-86 donated by Delia E. Walker, 10 Sep 2007; ff. 87-131 purchased from Mischa Scorer, 13 Oct 2006; f. 132 purchased from Alison Sherrington, through Colin Coleman Music, 3 Aug 2012; f. 133 purchased from Dominic Winter, auction of Gasson Opera Collection Part 1, lot 536 , 17 Sep 2014; ff. 134-8 purchased from Alison Sherrington, through Colin Coleman Music, 3 Aug 2012.

Material Type:

Archives and Manuscripts

Legal Status:

Not Public Record(s)

Names:

Crossley, Paul, pianist, b 1944
Hartog, Margaret, née Kitchin; pianist, 1914-2008
Ponsonby, Robert Noel, arts administrator, 1926-2019
Ruhm von Oppen, Beate, historian, translator, 1918-2004
Scorer, Mischa, documentary film-maker, b 1939
Tillett, Michael, music arranger, amanuensis of Sir Michael Tippett, 1922-2009

Related Archive Descriptions:

MS Mus. 1943