Composer

:

Michael Tippett

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Oratorio

Compose Date

:

1939 - 1941

Average_duration

:

65:38

Movement_count

:

30

Movement ....

A Child of Our Time is a choral work composed by Michael Tippett in 1939-1941. The piece was inspired by the events of Kristallnacht, a series of coordinated attacks against Jews in Nazi Germany on November 9-10, 1938. Tippett was deeply affected by the events and wanted to create a work that would express his feelings about the situation. The piece premiered on March 19, 1944, at the Adelphi Theatre in London. The premiere was conducted by the composer himself and featured soloists Joan Cross, Gladys Ripley, Richard Lewis, and Norman Walker. The work was performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Choir. A Child of Our Time is divided into three parts, each consisting of several movements. The first part is titled "The World Turns on its Dark Side" and includes movements such as "The Argument," "The Terror," and "A Spiritual." The second part is titled "The Goodly Fruit" and includes movements such as "The Narrator," "The Boy," and "The Girl." The third part is titled "The Soul of Man" and includes movements such as "The Dreamer," "The Word of Wisdom," and "The Call to Action." The work is characterized by its use of spirituals, which Tippett felt were a powerful expression of the human spirit. The spirituals are used to convey the emotions of the characters in the piece and to express the themes of oppression, suffering, and redemption. The work also features a large orchestra, which is used to create a dramatic and emotional effect. Overall, A Child of Our Time is a powerful and moving work that expresses the composer's deep concern for the plight of the Jewish people during the Holocaust. The piece has become a classic of 20th-century choral music and continues to be performed and admired by audiences around the world.

More....