John Tavener

Set of parts for this string quartet piece.This is a special item which is made to order. Please e-mail our Mail Order Department for further information.

If Ye Love Me by John Tavener was commissioned by Manchester International Festival (MIF Creative) with thanks to the support of the MIF Commissioning Circle. In If Ye LoveMe there are subtle echo-effects between three String Quartets which are complimented by an upper Voice choir.

Full score for this string quartet.This is a special item which is made to order. Please e-mail our Mail Order Department for further information.

Written for string orchestra or string quartet.This work was commissioned by the Cheltenham International Music Festival to celebrate Michael Berkeley’s ten years as Festival Director. It was first performed on 18th July2004 at the Bacon Theatre Dean Close School Cheltenham by the National Youth Orchestra Sinfonietta conducted by Geoffrey Paterson.This work is a brief contemplation of Sir Lennox Berkeley calmly remembering himthrough his son Michael for performance at the 2004 Cheltenham Festival.

Score for Scatter Roses Over My Tears a meditation on Jalalu-d-din R mi by John Tavener for string quartet.

Prayer of the Heart was inspired by The Chain of Hope. This charitable organisation raises money for the treatment of heart disorders in children including Marfan’s Syndrome of which John Tavener is a sufferer. Thesinger should sit on a low stool bowing towards the heart. This facilitates the soul’s concentration and its unification in ecstasy. The Prayer of the Heart is prayed ceaselessly day and night awake or sleeping becauseit has become at one with the beating of the heart... Silence peace sweetness of union with God... The Prayer is not usually sounded with the voice at all it is silent. Therefore the music must be played and sungintensely quietly with no physical effort. The Byzantine bell and large Tibetan temple bowl may be played by the singer. Prayer of the Heart should be sung in subdued lighting perhaps by candlelight. The recording of theheartbeat should sound very tenderly and quietly throughout.