John Tavener (1944-2013)

[gurnemanz]

Having heard him on Start the Week yesterday, I could hardly believe it. (Eerie that this was Andrew Marr's return to the programme, having himself been close to death). My contact with his music also began by attending the Whale Prom all those years ago. Our amateur choir (like many, I assume) has sung the Lamb.

[Serial_Apologist]

Mine was "In Alium" at the proms in 1968. Iirc an audience vote was taken on which work from Part 1 should be re-performed in the second half - they did adventurous things like that back in those days - and "in Alium" won. The announcer said the piece was influenced by Messiaen, late Strauss, late Stravinsky and Victorian hymns, and we thought, whaaaaaaaaaaat??????

[MickyD]

To my shame, I do not have a version of "The Protecting Veil" in my collection....would messageboarders be kind enough to recommend their favourite versions?

[Colonel Danby]

Great sadness at the passing of Sir John Tavener, a marvellous composer and an unique voice in contemporary music. I've got the 'Protecting Veil' and other works of course, but I shall listen to his extraordinary 'We Shall See Him As He Is' this evening in his memory.

RIP Sir John

[Old Grumpy]

To my shame, I do not have a version of "The Protecting Veil" in my collection....would messageboarders be kind enough to recommend their favourite versions?

The Protecting Veil is featured on the disc on BBC Music Magazine's December issue, which should still be in the shops (unless it has already been snapped up by collectors!). There is also an interview in the magazine with Sir John Tavener, by John White.

[ahinton]

RIP John Tavener :rose

Has anyone any news about PMD?

Not lately, no, but I see that the American composer Arnold Rosner died today as well, so let's hope that the grim reapoer doesn't have another bunch of composers in his sights again as was the case during the latter half of last year; time, methinks, for British composers Butterworth, Stevenson, Musgrave, Goehr, Wood, Birtwistle, Payne, Crosse, McCabe, Ferneyhough, Bryars, Matthews, Holloway, Matthews, Finnissy, Casken, Burrell, Osborne, Knussen, Dillon, Woolrich, Saxton, Beamish, Benjamin, Anderson, Adès and others that I regret not coming immediately to mind, not to mention our resident member Barrett, to watch their respective backs...

[Boilk]

Seconded he was the only modern choral composer who really could be said to stand amongst the greats or all time (along with perhaps Arvo Part) : Bach, Palestrina etc. John Rutter may get all the attention but Sir John was a genius: I think he will be very sadly missed :(

Unlike most of his contemporaries, he added a certain kind of beauty to the world of modern music and, also unlike them, had the guts to write exactly what he wanted to (rather than what was expected of a modern composer). But to compare him to contrapuntal greats like Palestrina and Bach seems rather OTT - although he may well send many listeners to comparable heights of ecstasy.

He was rather fortunate to have survived more than 30 years beyond his first stroke ... not a common statistic.

[Boilk]

I see that the American composer Arnold Rosner died today as well...

Thanks for that ahinton. Is there a link you can share? I have some of his stuff on Naxos, and would at least like to read any obituary.

[Beef Oven!]

Not lately, no, but I see that the American composer Arnold Rosner died today as well

Gosh, a sad day on both sides of the Atlantic

[Nick Armstrong]

Just put this on the other thread too - Sir JT's Nunc Dimittis is part of the live Choral Evensong from Christ Church, Oxford tomorrow afternoon....

[Colonel Danby]

Again really bad news, and on the same day I suppose: I only have one of Arnold Rosner's works in my collection, but it is a fine one, the 'Responses, Hosanna and Fugue' Op 67. Rosner was only about 67 too: one expects that these marvellous composers will live for ever but the grim reaper will eventually gather them in like the rest of us...

RIP Mr Rosner

[EdgeleyRob]

Very sad news.

RIP Sir John and Mr Rosner.

[Stephen Whitaker]

Does anyone remember a TV programme (was it Arena?) a long, long time ago featuring the young JT and The Whale? I have a dim recollection of his being filmed at the organ of a non-conformist chapel (can that really be so?) and of his being portrayed as something of an enfant terrible...but then memory plays tricks.

I remember that TV programme, also I remember going to the Prom which featured "The Whale" but cannot remember which came first,
if it was the concert I cannot recall why I wanted to go.

I half heard a reference to him working with prisoners on the Breakfast show, can anyone amplify that information?

[ardcarp]

working with prisoners on the Breakfast show

...it needs a captive audience.

[Old Grumpy]

I remember that TV programme, also I remember going to the Prom which featured "The Whale" but cannot remember which came first,
if it was the concert I cannot recall why I wanted to go.

I half heard a reference to him working with prisoners on the Breakfast show, can anyone amplify that information?

I would imagine it relates to this: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-en...le-638238.html

The word Pentonville was certainly mentioned on the programme.

OG