Proms 2012 - one month to go :)

[Balthazar]

Originally Posted by ReinerTorheit

No-one much wants to champion the cause of an openly gay pacificist composer - it's all very out-of-fashion these days.

I was going to say I like his Symphony #2. But I don't want to lose fashion points for touting the work of someone who was "gay" and "pacificist," whatever those terms mean.

[Sonatina]

So was Britten, but that doesn't have any relevance for me to that fact that he was a great composer, much better than Tippett. Perhaps it caused Britten more anxiety then when it was an offense, but other than that , I can't see how that should affect his music.
These reductionist arguements are really quite silly, for the simple reason that there may be many people who are 'gay' in the music industry , who have nothing like Britten or Tippett's ability.
I find that I can easily separate a composer work from his orientation.

[ReinerTorheit]

Originally Posted by Sonatina

So was Britten, but that doesn't have any relevance for me to that fact that he was a great composer.

And quite right too But there was a difference - Britten never openly admitted his sexuality, and made no comments on the subject. Of course people close to him knew - but they respected his right to privacy. Similarly Britten never made any public comments about the war that I'm aware of?

But Tippett was - what can we say, braver? or more naive? - in both respects, and paid the price for it. I hope that we've now reached a time when a more sensible view can be taken of Tippett and his music - and his huge contibution to the Early Music revival movement too

[Mambo]

Originally Posted by ReinerTorheit

No-one much wants to champion the cause of an openly gay pacificist composer - it's all very out-of-fashion these days.

I have heard Tippett - liked the Concerto for Double String Orchestra.
His style is like Britten's, nothing too outlandish.
Did not know about Tippett's extramusical characteristics.
There may be some who like his music, then upon finding out he's a gay pacifist, will knock him off their listening list.
(i.e. should i keep the 'other stuff' in mind next time i hear his music)