The sublime John Tavener
Posted by: JWM on 03 May 2007
I've done a 'find'; it is a very long time since mention has been made of the sublime John Tavener.
I am listening to this, and was going to put it on the 'What are you listening to?' thread, but decided that it (and John Tavener generally) really needs its/his own thread and a bit of a plug!!
If you like this, you'll probably love Arvo Part as well.
Both deeply contemplative - not in the contemporary sense of 'chilling out' , but rather, drawing you in, drawing you to something deeper.
To some, this glorious music will speak of man's ingenuity. To me - as to the composers themselves - it speaks of the Divine.
Samples (different recording):
The Lamb,
A Hymn to the Mother of God,
Threnos.
James
Posted on: 03 May 2007 by fidelio
james, coldn't let your thread go unanswered. yes, tavener is one of a kind, i have a number of his recordings. did you know that he used to hang out w/ ringo starr and was supposed to be the beginning of apple music's classical stable -- so the story goes, anyway. that all fell apart of course, and was before tavener's epiphany and conversion to orthodoxy. d'you like arvo part as well?
Posted on: 04 May 2007 by JWM
quote:
Originally posted by fidelio:
james, coldn't let your thread go unanswered.
Thank you, fidelio! I was beginning to wonder of this Forum "where's your will to be wierd?"!.
Yes, I like what I have heard of Arvo Part too, though do not own any recordings, not knowing quite where to start - perhaps you could suggest a couple of things?
I enjoy liturgical music of all sorts and periods. Though I seem to find myself with a particular leaning towards C20th - stemming first from Alain, whom I came across for the first time (Litanies) as an 18-year old page turner for an organist school friend of mine.
From him, Durufle, Poulenc, Langlais, to more exotic Messaiaen. And then on to Tavener and Part thrown in.
James
Posted on: 04 May 2007 by graham55
My recollection is that Apple released Tavener's music on an album called 'The Whale'. Someone will no doubt correct me if my memory's playing tricks with me on this. If I'm right, though, has anyone here heard it?
For those looking for more recent Tavener, I can strongly recommend a Gimmell CD entitled 'Ikon Of Light'.
Posted on: 04 May 2007 by fidelio
yes, "ikon of light" is excellent. you fellows may also like hildegaard ...
there are lots of good part records. the ecm "tabula rasa" is a good start, not all liturgical but a sampling of his works inc. some shorter pieces; same, "arbos." "passio" is monolithic liturgy. i like his "berliner messe" of which there are a couple of recordings ("te deum," ecm, is a good one). "de profoundis" is a collection of liturgical pieces. there are many others, they're pretty much all good, at least interesting, depending of course on one's taste.
be careful as his older stuff is quite different; you may like it, but he did more traditional "modern" classical before his epiphany.
Posted on: 04 May 2007 by JWM
Thanks for suggestions!
Posted on: 04 May 2007 by acad tsunami
Taverner is sublime indeed imo as are Arvo Part and Hildegaard.
Posted on: 05 May 2007 by Tarquin Maynard - Portly
Eternity's Sunrise is a work of ethereal beauty.
Posted on: 06 May 2007 by David Sutton
James,
Innocence is a really fab CD. The title track is a very good tester for your system. I could never really understand it until I heard it on a CDS3 through a 252. When it came to hearing the 555, it was a no brainer. Never had a chance yet to hear it live though. Maybe one day.....
David
