The Classical Music Book

284

I

n the 18th century, frequent

performances of Handel’s

oratorios in Britain established

a nationwide tradition of amateur

choirs and choral societies. These

fueled the production of choral

works by British and foreign

composers, who often premiered

their works at choral festivals.

For many British composers,

the production of choral music—

for the church or the concert hall—

had continued to be a central

activity. During the 20th century,

composers began to use the choral

tradition to write oratorios or

cantatas for soloists, choir, and

large orchestra to comment on

A Child of Our Time is performed by

the English National Opera in January

2005. Timothy Robinson, seated, sings
      the tenor solo from the second part:
      “My dreams are all shattered.”

IN CONTEXT

FOCUS

English choral tradition

in the late 20th century

BEFORE

1928 Constant Lambert’s The

Rio Grande premieres in a BBC

radio broadcast.

1931 William Walton’s cantata

Belshazzar’s Feast launches at

Leeds Festival.

1950 Herbert Howell’s

Hymnus Paradisi is sung at

Gloucester Cathedral as part of

the UK’s Three Choirs Festival.

AFTER

1962 The premiere of Britten’s

War Requiem marks the

consecration of Coventry

Cathedral, in the UK.

1984 Tippett’s oratorio The

Mask of Time premieres in

Boston, Massachusetts.

2008 James MacMillan’s

St. John Passion receives its

first performance at London’s

Barbican Center.

I MUST CREATE

ORDER OUT OF CHAOS

A CHILD OF OUR TIME ( 1939 –19 41 ),

MICHAEL TIPPETT

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