Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

January 28, 1944 in Wembley, Middlesex, England

Death

:

November 12, 2013 in Child Okeford, Dorset, England

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Choral

 

John Tavener was a British composer who was born on January 28, 1944, in Wembley, Middlesex, England. He was the son of a Methodist minister and grew up in a religious household. Tavener's interest in music began at an early age, and he started playing the piano when he was just three years old. He later learned to play the organ and the violin. Tavener attended Highgate School in London, where he studied music under the tutelage of composer Sir Michael Tippett. He went on to study at the Royal Academy of Music, where he was a student of Lennox Berkeley. Tavener's early works were influenced by the music of Stravinsky, Bartok, and Messiaen. In the 1960s, Tavener became interested in Eastern religions and began to incorporate elements of Indian and Byzantine music into his compositions. He converted to the Russian Orthodox Church in 1977 and his music became increasingly religious in nature. One of Tavener's most famous works is "The Whale," which was commissioned by the BBC in 1966. The piece is based on the biblical story of Jonah and the whale and features a narrator, a choir, and an orchestra. "The Whale" was a critical success and helped establish Tavener as a major figure in British classical music. Tavener's music continued to be influenced by his religious beliefs, and he often incorporated texts from the Bible and other religious texts into his compositions. One of his most famous works is "The Protecting Veil," which was written in 1987 and is based on the Orthodox Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God. The piece features a solo cello and a choir and is considered one of Tavener's most beautiful and moving works. Another notable work by Tavener is "Song for Athene," which was written in 1993 in memory of a young woman who died in a car accident. The piece was performed at the funeral of Princess Diana in 1997 and became one of Tavener's most popular works. Tavener's music was often described as spiritual and mystical, and he was known for his use of silence and stillness in his compositions. He was also known for his collaborations with other artists, including the choreographer Martha Graham and the filmmaker Derek Jarman. Tavener's health began to decline in the early 2000s, and he suffered a heart attack in 2007. He continued to compose, however, and his final work, "Requiem Fragments," was completed just weeks before his death in November 2013. John Tavener was a major figure in British classical music and his music continues to be performed and admired around the world. His unique blend of Eastern and Western musical traditions, combined with his deep religious faith, created a body of work that is both beautiful and profound.

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