 |
|
|
|
|
Sir Michael Tippett:
A Child of Our Time
|
|
|
|
| Oratorio for soloists, chorus and orchestra (1939-41) - "When Israel was in Egypt's Land" |
|
| text by the composer |
|
| Instrumentation: SATB soloists, chorus and orchestra |
|
|
| Categories:
Vocal Music
Orchestra
Israel
Egypt
Pathetic
Celebration
Passion
Melancholy
|
|
| Description: |
'The world turns on its dark side'. These are the words with which Michael Tippett's internationally successful oratorio 'A Child of Our Time' from 1939-1941 begins. Tippett's 'child of our time' is the young Polish Jew Herschel Grynszpan who, in order to avenge his parents, shot the German diplomat Eduard von Rath in Paris in 1938 and was later executed by the Nazis. In his fascinating oratorio, the English composer very consciously refers to the traditions of the major oratorios by Johann Sebastian Bach and Georg Friedrich Handel. In a particularly impressive manner, he succeeded to create something new in succession to the Bach Passions: Instead of contemplative chorales, Tippett uses Negro spirituals such as 'When Israel was in Egypt's Land', thus portraying the 'child of our time' as symbolic figure of oppression and persecution at all times.
CD: Sir Colin Davies, conductor - John Shirley-Quirk, Bass - BBC Singers - BBC Choral Society - BBC Symphony Orchestra, Philips Classics PH 446 331-2
click here to buy the sheet music edition in the Schott Shop |
|
| click here to buy this item in the Schott Shop |
|
|
|
|
|
|
