John Tavener

This work for viola chorus and percussion was commissioned by the London Symphony Chorus and was first performed in October 1994 at the Barbican Hall London by Yuri Bashmet and the London Symphony Chorus conducted by StephenWestrop.The remarkable text of the Troparion written by the great Byzantine poetess-nun Cassiana was the inspiration of The Myrrh-Bearer. The text informed the architecture of the music. The viola solo represents MaryMagdalen as the cello solo represented the Mother of God on The Protecting Veil. This is where the resemblance between the two pieces ends.In The Myrrh-Bearer the Chorus symbolises ‘us’ the ‘sins of the world’ from‘stylized dictatorships’ to ‘the frivolous inane escapist vanities of the world ’ the to cries of ‘help’ after the cosmic catastrophe and finally reaching an apocalyptic climax in the words ‘We have no king by Caesar;’ adownright condemnation of God in the Earthly power.In a surreal way the Magdalen’s ‘sin’ shines through in the viola music because she recognises the Godhead and the endless ‘Kyrie eleison’ chanted by the semi-chorusrepresents her repentance and whatever is left of a ‘repentant’ world.The Myrrh-Bearer explores the whole range of the viola climbing from the depths up to the highest notes and then falling again at the end after theMagdalen’s recognition of the Risen Christ ‘Rabboni.’The last stroke of the gong in the viola’s final bottom C gives a deliberately ominous end to the piece.This is a special item which is made to order. Please e-mail ourMail Order Department for further information.

Ikon of Eros was commissioned by the Minnesota Orchestra on the occasion of the Orchestra’s Centennial. First performance on 13th November 2002 at the St Paul Cathedral Minnesota by Jorja Fleezanis (violin) PatriciaRozario (soprano) Tim Krol (baritone) the Minnesota Orchestra and the Minnesota Chorale conducted by Paul Goodwin.

This work for mixed choir and hand bells set in English Greek and Slavonic by John Tavener was commissioned by Francis Grier.Large (A3) score.

For solo tenor and SATB chorus. Vocal score.This is a special item which is made to order. Please e-mail our Mail Order Department for further information.

For unaccompanied choir SAATTBB.This work was commissioned by Jonathan Manners and DeChorum who gave the first performance at the Cancer Research UK Carol Service at All Saints Church Weston-super-Mare on 20th December2010.Words by William Blake. John Tavener - A Cradle Song by musicroom

Hymns Of Paradise for bass solo SA chorus and six violins. This work was commissioned by Ross Pople for performance by the London Festival Orchestsra. It was first performed on 27th May 1993 at St Paul's Cathedral.

Latin Text-Missa Wellensis composed by John Tavener for unaccompanied double choir (SSAATTBB/SSAATTBB) was first performed on Sunday 18th May 2014 during the festival new music wells 74-14 by Wells CathedralChoir conducted by Matthew Owens. It was commissioned by Cathedral Commissions of Wells Cathedral.This setting of the missa brevis was written as a tribute to the Spanish Renaissance composer Victoria who inspiredTavener throughout his life. The final movement (Agnus Dei ) includes a quotation from Victoria’s O Vos Omnes from the Tenebrae Responsories.Duration: c. 13 minutes.

Written for SATB choir and Organ.The Veil of the Temple was commissioned by the Temple Music Trust. The world premiere took place on 27th June 2003 at the Temple Church London performed by the Choir ofthe Temple Church and the Holst Singers with Patricia Rozario (soprano) conducted by Stephen Layton as part of The City of London Festival 2003.The anthem Mother of God here I stand was sponsored by the ToulminFamily and it is dedicated to the Choir of the Temple Church its Director of Music Stephen Layton and the Master of the Temple the Rev. Robin Griffith-Jones. It was first performed on 13th May 2004 by the Choir of the TempleChurch conducted by Stephen Layton. Mother of God also features in the film Philomena starring Judi Dench and Steve Coogan and directed by Stephen Frears.

Tubular Bells Part-John Tavener's O Where Tell Me Where? was commissioned by The Bach Choir. It was first performed on 10th April 2014 at the Oriental Arts Centre Shanghai China by The Bach Choir conducted by DavidHill.This piece for SSSSAAAATTBB Choir and Tubular Bells is a meditation on three traditional Scottish songs: The Blue Bells Of Scotland My Love Is Like A Red Red Rose and The Skye Boat Song.

John Tavener's Ode Of Saint Andrew Of Crete for SSSATBB. This work was comissioned by the Southern Arts Festival with funds provided by the Southern Arts Council. Composers Note: SaintAndrew of Crete was born in Damascus c. 650 and died in the early 8th century. In the Orthodox Church his Great Canon is appointed to be read in its entirety at the Thursday Morning Service in the fifth week of Great Lent. Inthis work I have set the first Ode of Saint Andrew's great poem with interpolations of the refrain 'Have mercy upon me O God have mercy upon me' in English Greek and Church Slavonic. - J.T. Duration: 20 minutes 

Set of parts for this piece written for two violins viola and handbells.This is a special item which is made to order. Please e-mail our Mail Order Department for further information.

Work for unaccompanied SATB from Tavener's The Veil Of The Temple.The Veil of the Temple was commissioned by the Temple Music Trust. The world premiere took place on 27th June 2003 at the Temple Church London performed by the Choir of the Temple Church and the Holst Singers with Patricia Rozario (soprano) conducted by Stephen Layton as part of The City of London Festival 2003. The anthem Awed by the beauty was arranged in 2005.Byzantine text translated by Mother Thekla. ?Oh? should be sung as in the ?o? of ?log?. Breathe when necessary but not simultaneously. ?? and ???? represent microtones the characteristic ?breaks in the voice? of Eastern chant.

Work for Countertenor and Viol Consort. Premiered by Michael Chance and Fretwork.