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Michael Tippett

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Composer

The Resume

    (January 2, 1905-January 8, 1998)
    Born in London, United Kingdom
    Composed ‘A Child of Our Time’ (1944), ‘Birthday Suite for Prince Charles’ (1948), ‘Fantasia Concertante on a Theme of Corelli’ (1953), and the operas ‘The Midsummer Marriage’ (1955) and ‘King Priam’ (1963)
    Knighted (1966)

Why he might be annoying:

    He joined the British Communist Party (1935).
    He claimed conscientious objector status during World War II, refused to perform non-combat duties assigned by the military, and was sentenced to three months in prison (1943).
    His ‘Piano Concerto’ (1955) was called ‘unplayable’ by its intended soloist, Julian Katchen, who had to be replaced at the premier.
    Similarly, the Dennis Brain Wind Ensemble complained that his ‘Sonata for Four Horns’ was written in too high a key and demanded that it be transposed down (1955).

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was forced to leave Stamford School over his overt atheism.
    His compositions were influenced by Jungian concepts of shadow and light as aspects of the psyche.
    He wrote the librettos for his operas.
    He continued composing and touring into his 80s, even after losing the sight in his right eye from macular dystrophy.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 16 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 12 Votes: 58.33% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 8 Votes: 62.50% Annoying