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John TAVENER (b.1944) - A Portrait CD1 In Alium – Section A (1968) Eileen Hulse, soprano Ulster Orchestra/Takuo Yuasa To a Child Dancing in the Wind (1983) - Movement 1: He wishes for the Cloths of Heaven Heidi Grant Murphy, soprano, Auréole (Laura Gilbert, flute, Mary Hammann, viola, Stacey Shames, harp) The Lamb (1982); The Tyger (1987) Choir of St. John’s College Cambridge/Christopher Robinson Ikon of Light (1984): Movement 1: FOS 1, DOXA Movement 2: Piu Intensita The Sixteen, Members of the Duke Quartet,/Harry Christophers Mandelion for organ (1981) (extract) Kevin Bowyer, organ Chant for guitar (extract) (1984) Jonathan Richards (guitar) Ikon of St. Cuthbert of Lindisfarne (extract) Durham Cathedral Choir, Ian Shaw, organ/James Lancelot The Protecting Veil (1989), Section 1 Maria Kliegel, cello, Ulster Orchestra/Takuo Yuasa Mary of Egypt (1991) – Act III: Bless Duet Patricia Rozario, Mary; Stephen Varcoe, Zossima; Aldeburgh Festival Ensemble/Lionel Friend Akhmatova Songs for soprano and string quartet (1992) (two extracts) Patricia Rozario, soprano, The Vanbrugh Quartet Diódia for string quartet (1997) (extracts) The Vanbrugh Quartet Song for Athene (1993) Choir of St. John’s College, Cambridge/Christopher Robinson CD2 Zodiacs for piano (1997) Thalia Myers, piano Prayer of the Heart (1999) Björk, voice, Brodsky Quartet Ikon of Eros (2000): Movement 2: Eρωη (Eros) John Fleezanis, violin, Minnesota Orchestra and Minnesota Chorale/Paul Goodwin Mother and Child (2002) (extract) Tenebrae/Nigel Short John Tavener Reflects………A Recorded Interview NAXOS 8.558152-53 [79:31+75:55]

I think it might be best to look at the Tavener Portrait, one of an increasing number from Naxos, as an illustrated essay. The text is by David McCleery and provides one of the most succinct and structurally commonsensical summaries of the composer’s musical background. It’s true that the essay is schematic and like University English courses tends to make concrete and absolute that which may be more fluid and ambiguous. Yet it is I suppose undeniable that Tavener’s music, more than many others, is susceptible to this kind of analysis, not least because of his religious affiliations. The recorded interview that takes up about fifty minutes of the second CD is also full of interest. Tavener is an engaging speaker, if not always an especially humorous one (I don’t suppose it’s a precondition but it never does any harm) and this aural testament also adds another layer to the variousness of the enterprise. It may seem generic and journalistic but it does work and given your interest in Tavener (mine for what it’s worth is almost nil) will stimulate further discoveries or rediscoveries (No The Whale here I notice. Wonder why.) The music consists of extracts licensed from a number of different companies – not just Naxos’s own backlist. So we have Hyperion, Koch International, Coro, Divine Art, Priory, NMC and Regis amongst others. We also have the first release of Prayer of the Heart written for Icelandic popular chanteuse Björk with the assistance of the Brodsky Quartet, purveyors of the background music, though not the superimposed heartbeat. The most interesting piece here for me, is Zodiacs, for piano, which does have a fascinating colouristic palette. It’s also diverting to hear the guitar piece Chant, a four-minute extract of which is here. The expected hits are here – if I can put it that way – and of course (a quarter of an hour of) the interminable The Protecting Veil in the Kliegel recording for Naxos. Other than that this biographical essay with supporting aural evidence will doubtless prove of some worth to initiates and indeed detractors alike. Jonathan Woolf see also review by Gwyn Parry-Jones   Advertising Rates Visitor stats MusicWeb International has over 40,000 Classical CD reviews on offer Discs received Having a problem Donating? Gerard Hoffnung Concerts & The Bricklayer Story MusicWeb can now offer you discs from the following catalogues: Prices include postage There will be NO VAT Rises [Acte Préalable £13.50] [Arcodiva £12.00] [Avie from £6.25] [British Music Society £12.00] [CDACCORD from £13.50 ] [ClassicO £12.50] [Hallé from £11] [Heritage £10] [Hortus £14.99 ] [Lyrita ONLY £11.75 ] [Nimbus Special prices] [Northern Flowers £13.50] [REDCLIFFE £11 ] [Sheva £11] [Tactus £11.50 ] [Talent from £12.00 ] [Toccata Classics £10.50 ] Musicweb Special Offers Monthly Best Buys   New Releases New Releases   MusicWeb sells the Polish catalogue CDAccord £10.50 post free W-W MusicWeb sells the Arcodiva catalogue £12.00 post free W-W £11.75 post-free world- wide     Google Ads - for information about privacy matters, click here.  Amazon Musicweb International is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com

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