Selected Letters of Michael Tippett by Thomas Schuttenhelm

Author:Thomas Schuttenhelm [Thomas Schuttenhelm]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780571358151
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Published: 2019-02-28T16:00:00+00:00

* Following Britten’s dedication of Curlew River to Tippett for his 60th birthday.

David Ayerst

Tippett was introduced to David Ayerst (1904–92) in 1927 by Aubrey Russ, Tippett’s flatmate in West Hampstead. Ayerst had recently graduated from Oxford in history and was working as a journalist for the Manchester Guardian. He and Tippett shared an interest in left-wing politics, education and literature, particularly the works of Samuel Butler. Most of the letters to Ayerst, in which Tippett seems to be writing down his thoughts as fast as they occur to him, date from the time when he lived in Oxted and concern communism, pacifism and his status as a conscientious objector. In 1934 Ayerst entered the teaching profession and by the late 1930s had become headmaster of Blundells School in Tiverton, Devon. During the Second World War he was a colonel working in the War Office, and helped Tippett prepare for his Tribunal. With his wife Larema (née Fisher), he remained one of the composer’s closest friends.

[1934]

Dear David,

[…] I’ve retired into a musical shell again for the moment – also Wilf [Franks] has become a pivot point for me and it’s got its touch of heartbreak – but I think probably invention on my part – I don’t like his being away, because I torture myself with difficulties and moralities about him – and get long moments when I feel I’m hemming him in, like I did Christopher [Fry] – and yet he himself is so manifestly fond of me beyond the common lot – far worse of course, he has a habit of sharing beds, though not sexual commerce, with almost anyone who wants him to – his classic remark 2 years ago – ‘I do this for your benefit’ – rings in my ears – and yet what is one to do – I am by no means always the first to get an erection when we are together – well – I leave it to nature as much as I can – it’s a bit of both – illusion, love, and altruism on his side – and for all I know it’s much the same on mine, with greater accentuation on some one of the characteristics – I feel you see very clearly when you have people in front of you – hence my mute appeal – but don’t think this is tragic – not a bit – I’m really happier than I’ve ever been – and the holiday was the happiest I’ve ever had – the ‘Wilf’ mood is only in spasms – I’m at work again at music and the season’s concerts – BBC don’t want the Symphony [in B flat] – I’ve polished it up a good deal and finally am going to hawk it for some outside performance – some of it is really worth keeping despite the BBC.

Michael

1934

My dear David

[…] Wilf went up yesterday to town on a sudden decision to apply for entry to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art for a year’s course! I’m thankful and hope he passes the audition.

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