The composer Sir John Tavener talks about his first dance score, Amu, a mediation on the human heart inspired by medical technology. And, ahead of Radio 3's Webern Day, Tavener contemplates the "Divine Vacuity" of Webern's music. And Sir Michael Tippett's centenary year continues to be marked through the publication of the first major selection of his letters.
In this programme
The Selected Letters of Sir Michael Tippett
2005 marks the centenary of Sir Michael Tippett's birth, a composer whose lifetime spanned much of the twentieth century.
A new edition of Tippett's letters offers a fresh insight into the composer's life. The book focuses on Tippett's relationships with publishers, promoters, friends and lovers. Of particular interest are letters to his contemporary, Benjamin Britten, and his closest female friend, Francesca Allinson. Tom asks the critic Michael Kennedy what picture of Tippett emerges from the letters. Excerpts are read by Edward Petherbridge.
The Selected Letters of Michael Tippett, ed. Thomas Schuttenhelm with a foreword by David Matthews. Pub. Faber & Faber, hb. £25
You can also hear a recording of the Royal Opera House's forthcoming production of Tippett's Midsummer Marriage on Performance on 3 on 26 th November and there will be a whole evening dedicated to the life and works of Sir Michael Tippett on BBC Radio 3 on 30 th November.
Improvisations: The Early Music Weekend
The theme of this year's Early Music Weekend at London 's South Bank Centre is Improvisations. Today, the idea of improvising in music is most associated with jazz, but for centuries much musical composition was based on improvisation. From medieval times up until the end of the 18 th Century, the performer had a vital creative role to play in the music-making process. Tom discusses early music improvisation and the challenges of performing this music today with Tess Knighton, the artistic director of the Early Music Weekend, and musicologist John Milsom.
Improvisations: The Early Music Weekend takes place at the South Bank Centre, London , from 16 th -18 th September 2005 .
AMU
The workings of the human heart are the inspiration for Sir John Tavener's latest piece - a classical dance score and a collaboration with choreographer Wayne McGregor and heart imaging specialist Dr Philip Kilner. The heart has a special significance to Tavener, whose own rare heart condition led to his undergoing a series of heart scans with Dr Kilner at London 's Brompton Hospital . Tavener was transfixed by the beauty of the MRI image and agreed to collaborate with Dr Kilner on a performance piece about the heart. Tavener approached the choreographer Wayne McGregor to join him in creating Amu - 'from the heart'. Sir John Tavener, Wayne McGregor, Dr Philip Kilner, and the dancer, Hilary Stainsby, talk about their own involvement in this remarkable project.
Amu is at Sadler's Wells for three nights only, 15 th -17 th September 2005 .
Webern
On September 15 th 1945 , Anton Webern was shot dead by an American soldier in the Austrian village of Mittersill . On the same day 60 years later, BBC Radio 3 celebrates Webern's life and work through broadcasts of his complete works and a Webern evening presented by Andrew MacGregor. Sir John Tavener is a famous critic of Western 20 th century music, but for him Webern's music conveys a spirituality which transcends everyday human experience. Tavener shares his thoughts.
Radio 3's Webern Day - 15 th September.
