Composer

:

John Tavener

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

2003

Average_duration

:

13:25

Schuon Hymnen is a choral work composed by John Tavener in 1997. It was premiered on 22nd November 1997 at the Royal Festival Hall in London by the BBC Symphony Chorus and Orchestra, conducted by Andrew Davis. The work is based on the writings of the Swiss philosopher and metaphysician Frithjof Schuon, who was a major influence on Tavener's spiritual and philosophical beliefs. The work is divided into three movements, each of which is based on a different text by Schuon. The first movement, "Hymn to the Unknowable God", is a setting of a poem that explores the idea of the divine as an unknowable and ineffable presence. The music is slow and meditative, with long sustained chords and a sense of stillness and contemplation. The second movement, "Hymn to the Creator of Mountains", is a more dynamic and energetic piece that celebrates the majesty and power of nature. The music is characterized by driving rhythms and soaring melodies, with the choir and orchestra building to a powerful climax. The final movement, "Hymn to the Origin", is a setting of a text that explores the idea of the divine as the source of all creation. The music is ethereal and otherworldly, with shimmering textures and a sense of transcendence. Overall, Schuon Hymnen is a deeply spiritual and contemplative work that reflects Tavener's interest in the mystical and the transcendent. The music is characterized by its simplicity and clarity, with a focus on long, sustained chords and a sense of stillness and contemplation. The work has been widely praised for its beauty and its ability to evoke a sense of the divine.

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