Sir Michael Tippett - Divertimento on Sellinger's Round - Movements I & II

There is a lot to love about this work, especially if you like the music of the Renaissance and early Baroque. And it's fascinating to hear echoes of Tippett's other compositions in this piece - notably his Concerto for Double String Orchestra. In the second movement here, the ground bass of Purcell's "When I am laid in Earth" is unmistakable, as is Pachelbel's famous Canon.

Given the Tudor period of Byrd, I thought it would be nice to include images about Henry VIII, his six wives, the fascinating figures and places of the era, closing with the accession of Queen Elizabeth I. I added captions for those who would like to learn more about this momentous time in English history.

From elsewhere: "A variation of the traditional tune Sellinger's Round appears somewhere in each of the five movements. Incorporated in the music are short quotations from Byrd, Gibbons, Purcell, Arne, Field and Sullivan".

English Chamber Orchestra & Norman Del Mar