Michael Tippett: an introduction to his music
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.
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- Start Date: 13 Jan 2026End Date: 17 Feb 2026Tue (Daytime): 10:30 - 12:30In PersonLocation: Keeley StreetDuration: 5 sessions (over -6 weeks)Course Code: MD036BTutors: Katy HamiltonFull fee £149.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £104.00
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What is the course about?
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 <a href= https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/performing-arts/music/music-history target=_blank> 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.
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.
