Michael Tippett was a British composer like no other, with interests in everything from Purcell and Beethoven to rock music and American spirituals. Come and discover the life and works of this unusual, brilliant, witty and beautiful musician. NB: No scheduled lesson 27th Jan 2026
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
This course introduces students to the life and music of Michael Tippett, who is often paired with Benjamin Britten as one of the two most important British composers of the twentieth century. We’ll explore Tippett’s unusual career trajectory, his important work as a teacher and conductor, and study some of his most important works – from the famous choral piece A Child of Our Time to less well-known music for stage, orchestra and chamber forces.
What will we cover?
- Biographical details of Michael Tippett
- Overview of British musical life during Tippett’s lifetime (including comparisons of Tippett’s career with Britten’s)
- Case studies of key works, placing them in their appropriate context, historically and musically, and analysing them in terms of their musical style and content
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Identify important biographical moments and key works in Tippett’s life
- Recognise the importance that Tippett had on twentieth-century British musical life, including in reviving older music in performance
- Summarise the formal, harmonic and melodic characteristics of certain key works
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is designed as an overview for both beginners and enthusiasts. However, we will look at some music manuscripts and learn to identify key features of music notation (how many voices are singing, etc…) so this course will be most suitable for those who are curious and ambitious to learn.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
- Tutor presentation and explanation, including handouts
- Guided listening and watching of audio and audio-visual examples
- Class discussion and debate
- Course materials (handouts, scores, links to online videos) will be shared via google classroom.
- You will be encouraged to do extra reading outside class.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Please bring a notebook and pen.
You may also wish to purchase some of the music books or recordings discussed in class, links to these materials will be available online after each session.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
To find out more about music history classes Music history courses in London and online which lists our full programme of classes ordered by term, and by day of the week. You may then click on each title to read the full course outline.
Dr Katy Hamilton is a freelance researcher, writer and presenter on music. She is fast becoming one of the UK’s most sought-after speakers on music, providing talks for a host of organisations including the Wigmore Hall, Southbank Centre, BBC Proms, Ryedale Festival and Oxford Lieder Festival. In addition, she regularly writes programme notes for the Salzburg Festival, North Norfolk Festival and the Philharmonia Orchestra, and is a frequent contributor to BBC Radio 3’s Record Review. Katy worked as Graham Johnson’s research assistant for his monumental Franz Schubert: The Songs and their Poets (Yale University Press, 2014) and is co-editor of Brahms in the Home and the Concert Hall (Cambridge University Press, 2014) and Brahms in Context (Cambridge University Press, 2019). In addition to her research and presentation work, Katy has taught at the Royal College of Music, City Lit, the University of Nottingham and Middlesex University, working with students in performance workshops and music history classes. She has been teaching Music History courses at City Lit since 2015. She is also Public Events Programmer at the Foundling Museum in central London.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/michael-tippett-an-introduction-to-his-music2508469Michael Tippett: an introduction to his musichttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/beethoven-an-introduction-to-his-music-md041b.jpg149149GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Performing arts/Courses/Performing arts/Music/Courses/Performing arts/Music/Music history22851314135113631228513141351<p>Michael Tippett was a British composer like no other, with interests in everything from Purcell and Beethoven to rock music and American spirituals. Come and discover the life and works of this unusual, brilliant, witty and beautiful musician. <u><strong>NB: No scheduled lesson 27th Jan 2026</strong></u></p>002508415Michael Tippett: an introduction to his music149149https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/beethoven-an-introduction-to-his-music-md041b.jpgInStockDaytimeTueKeeley StreetNo longer available5-10 weeksWeekday2026-01-13T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allJan 2026Performing artsMD036B149149Michael Tippett: an introduction to his music119104149Katy Hamiltonmichael-tippett-an-introduction-to-his-music/md036b-2526<p>Michael Tippett was a British composer like no other, with interests in everything from Purcell and Beethoven to rock music and American spirituals. Come and discover the life and works of this unusual, brilliant, witty and beautiful musician. <u><strong>NB: No scheduled lesson 27th Jan 2026</strong></u></p>0015-FullStillOpen|2026-01-13 00:00:00<p>This course introduces students to the life and music of Michael Tippett, who is often paired with Benjamin Britten as one of the two most important British composers of the twentieth century. We’ll explore Tippett’s unusual career trajectory, his important work as a teacher and conductor, and study some of his most important works – from the famous choral piece <em>A Child of Our Time </em>to less well-known music for stage, orchestra and chamber forces.</p><p>Michael Tippett was a British composer like no other, with interests in everything from Purcell and Beethoven to rock music and American spirituals. Come and discover the life and works of this unusual, brilliant, witty and beautiful musician. <u><strong>NB: No scheduled lesson 27th Jan 2026</strong></u></p><p>- Biographical details of Michael Tippett</p><p>- Overview of British musical life during Tippett’s lifetime (including comparisons of Tippett’s career with Britten’s)</p><p>- Case studies of key works, placing them in their appropriate context, historically and musically, and analysing them in terms of their musical style and content</p><p>- Identify important biographical moments and key works in Tippett’s life </p><p>- Recognise the importance that Tippett had on twentieth-century British musical life, including in reviving older music in performance</p><p>- Summarise the formal, harmonic and melodic characteristics of certain key works </p><p>This course is designed as an overview for both beginners and enthusiasts. However, we will look at some music manuscripts and learn to identify key features of music notation (how many voices are singing, etc…) so this course will be most suitable for those who are curious and ambitious to learn.</p><p>- Tutor presentation and explanation, including handouts</p><p>- Guided listening and watching of audio and audio-visual examples</p><p>- Class discussion and debate</p><p>- Course materials (handouts, scores, links to online videos) will be shared via google classroom.</p><p>- You will be encouraged to do extra reading outside class.</p><p>Please bring a notebook and pen.</p><p>You may also wish to purchase some of the music books or recordings discussed in class, links to these materials will be available online after each session.</p><p>To find out more about music history classes <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/blog/music-history-your-guide-our-programme">Music history courses in London and online</a> which lists our full programme of classes ordered by term, and by day of the week. You may then click on each title to read the full course outline.</p>MusicMusic historyvirtual119149104MD036BNONETue13/01/26 - 17/02/2610:30 - 12:3010:3012:305 sessions (over 6 weeks)55-10 weeksDaytimeWeekdayKSKeeley StreetKaty HamiltonBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allNo longer available2026-01-13T00:00:00+00:00Jan 2026Performing arts149149Michael Tippett: an introduction to his musicmichael-tippett-an-introduction-to-his-music/md036b-2526<p>Michael Tippett was a British composer like no other, with interests in everything from Purcell and Beethoven to rock music and American spirituals. Come and discover the life and works of this unusual, brilliant, witty and beautiful musician. <u><strong>NB: No scheduled lesson 27th Jan 2026</strong></u></p>0015-FullStillOpen|2026-01-13 00:00:00<p>This course introduces students to the life and music of Michael Tippett, who is often paired with Benjamin Britten as one of the two most important British composers of the twentieth century. We’ll explore Tippett’s unusual career trajectory, his important work as a teacher and conductor, and study some of his most important works – from the famous choral piece <em>A Child of Our Time </em>to less well-known music for stage, orchestra and chamber forces.</p><p>Michael Tippett was a British composer like no other, with interests in everything from Purcell and Beethoven to rock music and American spirituals. Come and discover the life and works of this unusual, brilliant, witty and beautiful musician. <u><strong>NB: No scheduled lesson 27th Jan 2026</strong></u></p><p>- Biographical details of Michael Tippett</p><p>- Overview of British musical life during Tippett’s lifetime (including comparisons of Tippett’s career with Britten’s)</p><p>- Case studies of key works, placing them in their appropriate context, historically and musically, and analysing them in terms of their musical style and content</p><p>- Identify important biographical moments and key works in Tippett’s life </p><p>- Recognise the importance that Tippett had on twentieth-century British musical life, including in reviving older music in performance</p><p>- Summarise the formal, harmonic and melodic characteristics of certain key works </p><p>This course is designed as an overview for both beginners and enthusiasts. However, we will look at some music manuscripts and learn to identify key features of music notation (how many voices are singing, etc…) so this course will be most suitable for those who are curious and ambitious to learn.</p><p>- Tutor presentation and explanation, including handouts</p><p>- Guided listening and watching of audio and audio-visual examples</p><p>- Class discussion and debate</p><p>- Course materials (handouts, scores, links to online videos) will be shared via google classroom.</p><p>- You will be encouraged to do extra reading outside class.</p><p>Please bring a notebook and pen.</p><p>You may also wish to purchase some of the music books or recordings discussed in class, links to these materials will be available online after each session.</p><p>To find out more about music history classes <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/blog/music-history-your-guide-our-programme">Music history courses in London and online</a> which lists our full programme of classes ordered by term, and by day of the week. You may then click on each title to read the full course outline.</p>MusicMusic historyconfigurable
13631351Music historyhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/performing-arts/music/music-history1/2/285/1314/1351/13631/Courses/Performing arts/Music/Music history
