Unit One: Tippett, Bliss and Finzi
From the British Library, London; The Britten-Pears Library; The Barber Institute; The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge; St. John's College, Cambridge; Mrs. Heather Nugent Wadhurst; and Northwestern University
Tippett, Bliss and Finzi are considered among the 20th-century's most influential and original composers. This collection gathers manuscripts from several sources. Included are Tippett's first acknowledged work, the String Quartet No.1 (1934-35); the oratorio, A Child of Our Time, (in pencil score at Add. MS. 61754); his First Symphony, first major opera, The Midsummer Marriage; and the song cycle The Heart's Assurance. In addition, the collection includes Tippett's The Vision of St. Auqustine and two later operas, The Knot Garden and The Ice Break.
Unit One: 18 reels
Unit Two: The Elgar Diaries, Letters and Manuscripts from Birmingham University Library
This collection includes the diaries of Edward Elgar together with those of his wife Alice and daughter Carice and cover the years 1889-1939.
Elgar's diaries cover a 35-year period and include journals of his travels. Although he wrote relatively little in comparison to his wife Alice, his diaries contain many notable events including the moving death of Alice in his arms. Alice's diaries offer a detailed picture of the Elgars' daily life, the immense labor of Elgar's composing and sometimes, of the emotions stirred by his works.
These diaries are an invaluable addition to music libraries. Music scholars and students interested in the composition process will find details worthy of noting. Social historians will take interest in the political, religious and business interactions found in these pages.
Unit Two:17 reels
Complete collection: 35 reels