John Tavener

The Lamb is John Tavener's setting of William Blake's poem for unaccompanied SATB (Soprano/Alto/Tenor/Bass) choir. John Tavener's mesmerising choral work The Lamb hasbeen a firm favourite since its composition in 1982. Audiences love the beautiful simplicity of the words and the lush harmonies that the different Vocal parts create. The piece was composed by Tavener in just oneafternoon and was dedicated to his nephew's third birthday. Although the piece is unaccompanied a Piano accompaniment is included for rehearsal purposes. This particular piece is challenging yet rewarding with divergent almost discordant parts in the first verse as the poem asks ambiguous questions. During the second verse however the song breaks into an uplifting harmony as the poem resolves to an epiphany. When performed well TheLamb is quietly atmospheric and a joy to hear. So for something special for your four-part choir to perform John Tavener's The Lamb is a hauntingly pretty piece that is sure to leave youraudiences speechless.

John Tavener's Ex Maria Virgine is a sequence of Christmas carols their emphasis on the Nativity and the Virgin Mary. Scored for SATB unaccompanied or with Organ the collection isrepresentative of the broad range of Tavener's choral writing. These carols may be performed as the full sequence or as individual pieces: carols such as Ding! Dong! Merrily on High and Unto Us is Born aSon to familiar texts made novel and exciting or Rocking a simple four-part setting sure to become a favourite with choirs of any accomplishment.

This album features 16 of John Tavener's anthems for SATB choir. Contents include: 'A Christmas Round' 'Advent Antiphon' 'Agnus Dei' 'As one who has slept' 'Exhortation and Kohima' 'TheFounder’s Prayer' 'God is with us (A Christmas Proclamation)' 'A Hymn to the Mother of God' 'The Lamb' 'Mother of God here I stand' 'Nunc dimittis' 'O that we were there' 'Rocking' 'Song for Athene' 'Today theVirgin' and 'What God is we do not know'.

Svyati - 'O Holy One' for choir and solo cello. Text in church Slavonic. Quoting Tavener: 'I began to write Svyati in early 1995: while sketching it I learned that John Williams father of Jane my dear friend andpublisher was dying. I could not refrain from dedicating it to Jane and to the memory of her father. The text is in Church Slavonic and it is used at almost every Russian Orthodox service perhaps most poignantly afterthe congregation have kissed the body in an open coffin at an Orthodox funeral. The choir sings as the coffin is closed and borne out of the church followed by the mourners with lighted candles. The cello represents the Priest orIkon of Christ and should play at a distance from the choir perhaps at the opposite end of the building. As is Greek drama choir and priest are in dialogue with each other. Since the cello represents the Ikon of Christ it mustbe played without any sentiment of a Western character but should derive from the chanting of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

John Tavener's Ex Maria Virgine is a sequence of Christmas carols their emphasis on the Nativity and the Virgin Mary. Scored for SATB unaccompanied or with Organ the collection isrepresentative of the broad range of Tavener's choral writing. These carols may be performed as the full sequence or as individual pieces: carols such as Ding! Dong! Merrily on High and Unto Us is Born aSon to familiar texts made novel and exciting or Rocking a simple four-part setting sure to become a favourite with choirs of any accomplishment. Includes a performance CD recorded by the choir of ClareCollege Cambridge.

For unaccompanied SATB choir from Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis.This work was commissioned by the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain. First performed on 9th April 2012 at the Royal Albert Hall London conducted byMike Brewer.

Tavener's Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis was commissioned by the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain. First performance on 9th April 2012 at the Royal Albert Hall London conducted by Mike Brewer.Fordouble choir (SSAATTBB/SSAATTBB) and Children's voices (SSSSAA).Composer's NoteThe Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis are both set in Latin. The Magnificat has a festive character and is written for doublechoir with children’s voices. Nunc Dimittis is a very personal and simple response to the beautiful text for SATB.             - John Tavener

A Garland For Linda is an evocative and moving anthology of works for a cappella chorus to commemorate the life of Linda McCartney. Modelled on the precedent of A Garland For The Queen (1953) nine British composers including Paul McCartney Richard Rodney Bennett John Rutter and John Tavener have been inspired to compose music of considerable expressiveness and beauty. The anthology shows the power of music to provide hope to those whoare suffering from ill health. For every book purchased £1 will be given to the Garland Appeal which aims to raise £2m for breast and liver cancer research.

Song For Athene for unaccompanied SATB choir was commissioned by the BBC and written in memory of Athene Hariades who died in March 1993. The text is taken from Shakespeare's Hamlet and the Orthodox FuneralService. The work was first performed at the funeral of Diana Princess of Wales in September 1997 under the title Alleluia. May Flights of Angels Sing Thee to Thy Rest. Martin Neary conducted the Westminster AbbeyChoir.

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.

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.