This work for soprano solo and SATB chorus was commissioned by the Norwich Festival of Contemporary Church Music.Tavener:'In the Orthodox Church the Lament of the Mother of God is normally sung on Holy and Great Friday. Inits full length it lasts about half and hour and it is intoned by the Priest or Bishop while the people venerate the Epitaphios (or Shroud of the Dead Christ) which is in the centre of the church and decorated withflowers.The Lament must be sung with an ikon-like stillness and great purity. It grows in intensity as it climbs in tessitura but without anything sudden or remotely melodramatic.For the Orthodox Church there is never thesense of absolute desolation felt by the Western Church on Good Friday. Hence the cry of the Mother of God 'Dost thou change my grief to gladness by thy Resurrection?' followed by the full forces: 'Rise O God and judge theearth.'Mother of God also features in the film Philomena starring Judi Dench and Steve Coogan and directed by Stephen Frears.

From Geistliche Chor-Music-Published in 1648 Heinrich Schütz’s “Geistliche Chor-Music” is still regarded as one of his seminal works. A two-volume performance edition based on Werner Breig’s revised new text is available (BA 5901/BA 5902).Now selected motets are being issued in separate volumes. They offer a modern notation and layout retain the original keys and include an integrated figured bass realisation.In keeping with contemporary performance practice the ‘choral’ parts can be performed by instruments as well as voices. Instrumental parts with underlaid words may be purchased separately for performances with instruments (seeperformance material for BA 5901 and BA 5902).- Verleih uns Frieden genädiglich No.4 SWV 372 from 'Geistliche Chor-Music'- Cantus Quintus Countertenor Tenor Bassus Basso continuo ad lib.