John Tavener: O Do Not Move: SATB: Vocal Score

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.

Composer's Note'The words of this piece are taken from the poem They are all gone into the world of light by Henry Vaughan. The music came to me after attending the beautiful and moving funeral of MarianneYacoub wife of the eminent heart surgeon Sir Magdi Yacoub who has been such a great support to me over many years.'             - JohnTavenerThey Are All Gone Into The World Of LightThey are all gone into the world of light!And I alone sit ling’ring here;I see them walking in an air of glory Whoselight doth trample on my days:My days which are at best but dull and hoary Mere glimmering and decays.Dear beauteous Death! the jewel of the just Shining nowhere but in the dark;Could man outlookthat mark!And into glory peep.Either disperse these mists which blot and fillMy perspective still as they pass:Or else remove me hence unto that hill Where I shall need noglass.             - Henry Vaughan

Written for unaccompanied SATB choir. The composer writes The Open Secret is a hadith or traditional saying of the Prophet Mohammad attributed to Ali Ibn Abi Talib. The profundity of this hadith moved me to makethis setting for SATB choir. The music is intended to be used in a Christian context to promote an understanding of the depth and beauty of Islam.

Androcosme is the tenth movement of the wider work Miroir Des Poèmes a work which sets 22 poems by the French poet and philosopher Jean Biès. This piece is arranged for unaccompanied double SATBChoir and lasts around 3 minutes. Miroir Des Poèmes was commissioned by the Vancouver Chamber Choir to mark their 40th anniversary in 2011 with major funding coming from the Arts Partners inCreative Development. The lyrics of Androcosme include a refrain which depicts the progression of man's life through various emotions comparing them to the natural world in a beautifully poetic metaphor.Tavener himself describes this piece as part of the central section which is 'the metaphysical and mystical centre of the piece'. Please note the words are in French but an Englishtranslation is provided.