Composer

:

John Tavener

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Chorus

Compose Date

:

1985

Average_duration

:

4:43

"Love bade me welcome" is a choral work composed by John Tavener in 1985. It was premiered in the same year by the Choir of Winchester Cathedral, conducted by Martin Neary. The piece is part of Tavener's larger work, "The Five Spiritual Songs," which was commissioned by the Winchester Festival. The piece is written for SATB choir and is set to a text by the 17th-century poet George Herbert. The text is a meditation on the nature of love and the human response to it. The piece is divided into two movements, with the first movement being a setting of the first stanza of the poem and the second movement being a setting of the second stanza. The first movement begins with a simple, unaccompanied melody sung by the sopranos. The other voices gradually join in, creating a rich, harmonious texture. The music is slow and contemplative, reflecting the introspective nature of the text. The second movement is more lively and rhythmic, with a driving pulse that propels the music forward. The choir sings in unison for much of the movement, creating a sense of unity and purpose. One of the most striking characteristics of "Love bade me welcome" is its use of silence. Tavener employs long pauses between phrases, allowing the music to breathe and giving the listener time to reflect on the text. The harmonies are also quite simple, with a focus on pure intervals such as fifths and octaves. This simplicity creates a sense of purity and clarity that is in keeping with the spiritual nature of the text. Overall, "Love bade me welcome" is a beautiful and deeply moving work that reflects Tavener's spiritual and musical sensibilities. Its simplicity and use of silence make it a powerful meditation on the nature of love and the human response to it.

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