John Tavener

Ikon of Joy/Sorrow is for 2 Violins Viola and Cello. Composed in 1999 when Tavener was around 55 years old this short 2 minute long piece was premiered by the Brodsky Quartet.

In Prayer Of The Heart the text of the Eastern Orthodox monastic prayer -- Lord Jesus Christ Son of God Have mercy upon me is sung in a mantra-like way in English Greek and Coptic while a slow recording of a human heartbeatplays. The singer is instructed to ?sit on a low stool bowing towards the heart? and may play the bell and bowl. The piece slowly explores the entire circle of fifths beginning in the key of C and playing each related minorand moving to the related dominant key then repeating until the return to C. It is a profoundly meditative work.The work was originally composed for Icelandic singer Björk and the Brodsky Quartet to benefit the charity TheChain of Hope. It was recorded by the original performers.John Tavener was that rare creature a composer of serious music and serious religious music who had also achieved commercial success. He burst into the popularconsciousness with the performance of his Song for Athene at the funeral of Princess Diana but had been a highly respected and frequently-performed composer since the premiere of his dramatic cantata The Whale in 1968.

John Tavener's Fear No More for unaccompanied SATB choir.This work was first performed in Salisbury Cathedral on 24th May 2007 as part of a Requiem Mass for the Rev. Gerald Squarey.

A work for SATB chorus and orchestra commissioned by Bedford School. The first performance was given by the school's First Orchestra and Choral Society conducted by Andrew Morris in October 1981.This is a special item whichis made to order. Please e-mail our Mail Order Department for further information.

This work was commissioned by DOM in association with Canty who gave the first performance in York Minster on 23rd October 2008.This brief motet for four voices and renaissance bray harp was written in the South of France inFebruary 2007. It is a setting of two Hadiths or sayings attributed to the Prophet Mohammed. The words convey something of the great mystery of the Absolute and the Beautiful One who is immanent and yet hidden. The music shouldbe performed with great purity in a resonant acoustic. If a renaissance bray harp is not available the harp part may be played on a contemporary instrument. I was a Hidden Treasure; And I longed to be known; So Icreated the world.God is a Beautiful Being And He loves Beauty.

This work is scored for Concertante Oboe Trumpet and Violin Soli and orchestra.

In this piece for unaccompanied SATB choir fervent dance-like music appears side by side with fear and awe producing a dramatic contrast.The work was commissioned jointly by the Dean and Chapter of Winchester Cathedral andby Mrs Ruth Daniel on behalf of St. John's College Cambridge for performances during Advent 1997. There were simultaneous first performances on 29th November 1997 given by the Choir of Winchester Cathedral conducted by DavidHill and the choir of St. John's College conducted by Christopher Robinson in Cambridge.

Commissioned by the Westminster Cathedral. This piece for Treble Voices with Organ was first performed in June 2005 at Westminster Cathedral London by Westminster Cathedral Choir. Missa Brevis Is dedicated to the memoryof His Holiness Pope John Paul II.A version for Treble Voices and Organ is also available: Catalogue No.CH69971

The composer’s note on this copy of the autograph score has the following directions: ‘Out of the Night was written to be played in order to ‘greet the dawn’ outside St Catherine’s Monastery Sinai’ and it is recommended that the work be played outside or in a church or building with some resonance. The sound is Middle Eastern modal invoking the Orthodox Church with the Greek pronunciation of the single word ‘Alleluia’.Tavener was widely known as a composer of religious music and while this work does not fit any liturgical use it communicates the sacredness of a new day. Contemporary British composer John Tavener was that rare creature a composer of serious music andserious religious music who also achieved commercial success. He burst into the popular consciousness with the performance of his Song for Athene at the funeral of Princess Diana but had been a highly respected and frequently performed composer since the premiere of his dramatic cantata The Whale in 1968.

Three sections from the four quartets by T.S. Eliot set to music by John Tavener For tenor and piano.

Conductor's score (A3 size) for this work for SATB and orchestra.This is a special item which is made to order. Please e-mail our Mail Order Department for further information.

This work was commissioned by the Icelandic choir Kammerkor Suourlands (Collegium Canticorum). It was first performed in July 2004 at Skalholt music festival.

An intense work for string quartet and solo soprano with words by Kathleen Raine to whom the work is dedicated. The piece was commissioned by the Wets Cork Chamber Music Festival and was first performed in July 1999 in Cork Ireland by the Vanbrugh String Orchestra and Patricia Rozario (soprano).Quoting Tavener: The World for string quartet and soprano solo should be performed at maximum intensity throughout. White hot white cold intensely loud intensely soft almost unbearable that which is nowhere and everywhere not human but divine - theanthropic.

For solo tenor (or bass) with small group of basses and unaccompanied SATB choir composed by Tavener in 1997.'The Ancient Saints of France (pre-schism) are acknowledged deeply revered by the Orthodox Church.The beginningand the end are framed by a longer section which tells of the earthly life of a St Martin of Tours.This is a special item which is made to order. Please e-mail our Mail Order Department for further information.