John Tavener

One of Tavener's most famous works The Protecting Veil for solo cello and string orchestra was commissioned by the BBC for the 1989 series of Henry Wood Promenade Concerts. The first performance was given in September 1989at the Royal Albert Hall London by Steven Isserlis and the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Oliver Knussen.Study Score. Duration c. 42mins.

A sacred work for unaccompanied SSATBB choir using text from The Order For The Burial Of Dead Priests translated from Greek by Isabel Hapgood.Vocal score with piano accompaniment for rehearsalpurposes.

Mand lion was commissioned for the 1982 Dublin International Organ Festival by RHM Foods. It was first performed on the 27th June 1982 by Pete Sweeney at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin.The piecetakes its name from the Greek word for ‘handkerchief' a word that is also used in iconography to refer to an Ikon ‘not made by hands’ which is equivalent to the idea of the shroud. Mand lion is a meditation uponIkons and upon the changing image of the face of Christ.Tavener recommends that this piece should be played freely and with great ‘sweep’.

Composer's notes:The Fool is a time-honoured Orthodox religious figure: a Saint the highest of all who discards everything for Christ's sake. He discards all convention all decency all wealth actual and spiritual and turns himself into a figure of fun - defying all acceptable behaviour - and all religious decency. He stands in the square and lets down his trousers - he stuffs himself with food on Good Friday - he gets drunk - he 'appears'to fornicate wildly. There is a faint possibility (in not the highest of 'Fools') of gaining worldly popularity by such flagrant denial of all moral behaviour. Can such behaviour be too interesting? The true fool however embraces all of this and also (unseen) shrinks before the face of his God. By his behaviour he plucks out all hypocrisy false piety and corruption. He is a figure much needed in our times!!! The way I have tried to tacklethis extraordinary subject is to show him in seven stages from an obscene huge fat traditional clown who is drunk fornicating etc. through a stumbling frail agonized figure to a sallow-faced gaunt business man in a formalsuit staring at an empty glass. Having first revered him then mocked him the 'people' while they get drunk and jabber away at 'Christmas' and at the Feast of Feasts 'Easter' are no longer aware of him. But the audience seeshim - a tiny ragged scrap of mortality lying in a corner and faintly so faintly the voice of the Fool the true Fool for Christ's sake sings above the ribald crowd. 'He has given His life'. The Gogmagogs are the 'people' 'priests' 'singers' etc. and one male singer who can 'create' or 'uncreate' this vast role (singing and acting miming etc.) John Tavener Arranged for SSATBB chorus. Date of composition 2000. Chorus part only.

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.

Vocal score for this work for SSSSAATBBBB choir.This is a special item which is made to order. Please e-mail our Mail Order Department for further information.

John Tavener's Pluies is a work for Solo Mezzo-Soprano SATB Chorus and String Quartet. The piece was first performed on 31st January 2015 and lasts around 5 minutes. This is the fullscore. The words for Pluies come from a poem of the same name by Saint-John Perse. 

John Tavener's 1997 work for tenor solo 3 flutes (doubling alto flutes) and percussion.Large (A3) score. This is a special item which is made to order. Please e-mail our Mail Order Department for further information.

For unaccompanied SATB choir.This work was written for the Choir of Eton College.Text by King Henry VI who founded Eton College in 1440.

A revised SATB/orchestra version of Tavener's Requiem For Father Malachy. Full score. This is a special item which is made to order. Please e-mail our Mail Order Department for further information.

Miniature vocal score for two works for unaccompanied SATB choir Ikon Of The Nativity and O Do Not Move. Ikon Of The Nativity was first performed in December 1991 by Cappella Nova conducted by Alan Tavener.O Do Not Move was first performed in June 1992 by the Holst Singers conducted by Nicholas Cleobury.This is a special item which is made to order.

This singing tableau for voices instruments and children is based on the story of the Dormition of the mother of God as recounted in the Apocryphal Gospel of St. John. The work uses an adult choir and instrumental group andchildren who enact the story in highly stylised mime sequences.Vocal Score with piano reduction of the orchestra score. Duration c. 60mins.

Tavener's 1982 setting of a ritual procession. This is a special item which is made to order. Please e-mail our Mail Order Department for further information.

John Taverner: The tiny Parting Gift for Tam Farrow is an essence a fragrance that came to me from her. The performance of the essence is my gift back to her. For SATB Choir. Premiered by The Tallis Scholars.