The composer’s note on this copy of the autograph score has the following directions: ‘Out of the Night was written to be played in order to ‘greet the dawn’ outside St Catherine’s Monastery Sinai’ and it is recommended that the work be played outside or in a church or building with some resonance. The sound is Middle Eastern modal invoking the Orthodox Church with the Greek pronunciation of the single word ‘Alleluia’.Tavener was widely known as a composer of religious music and while this work does not fit any liturgical use it communicates the sacredness of a new day. Contemporary British composer John Tavener was that rare creature a composer of serious music andserious religious music who also achieved commercial success. He burst into the popular consciousness with the performance of his Song for Athene at the funeral of Princess Diana but had been a highly respected and frequently performed composer since the premiere of his dramatic cantata The Whale in 1968.

Parts for Scatter Roses Over My Tears a meditation on Jalalu-d-din R mi by John Tavener for string quartet.

Score for Scatter Roses Over My Tears a meditation on Jalalu-d-din R mi by John Tavener for string quartet.

If Ye Love Me by John Tavener was commissioned by Manchester International Festival (MIF Creative) with thanks to the support of the MIF Commissioning Circle. In If Ye LoveMe there are subtle echo-effects between three String Quartets which are complimented by an upper Voice choir.

This work for viola chorus and percussion was commissioned by the London Symphony Chorus and was first performed in October 1994 at the Barbican Hall London by Yuri Bashmet and the London Symphony Chorus conducted by StephenWestrop.The remarkable text of the Troparion written by the great Byzantine poetess-nun Cassiana was the inspiration of The Myrrh-Bearer. The text informed the architecture of the music. The viola solo represents MaryMagdalen as the cello solo represented the Mother of God on The Protecting Veil. This is where the resemblance between the two pieces ends.In The Myrrh-Bearer the Chorus symbolises ‘us’ the ‘sins of the world’ from‘stylized dictatorships’ to ‘the frivolous inane escapist vanities of the world ’ the to cries of ‘help’ after the cosmic catastrophe and finally reaching an apocalyptic climax in the words ‘We have no king by Caesar;’ adownright condemnation of God in the Earthly power.In a surreal way the Magdalen’s ‘sin’ shines through in the viola music because she recognises the Godhead and the endless ‘Kyrie eleison’ chanted by the semi-chorusrepresents her repentance and whatever is left of a ‘repentant’ world.The Myrrh-Bearer explores the whole range of the viola climbing from the depths up to the highest notes and then falling again at the end after theMagdalen’s recognition of the Risen Christ ‘Rabboni.’The last stroke of the gong in the viola’s final bottom C gives a deliberately ominous end to the piece.This is a special item which is made to order. Please e-mail ourMail Order Department for further information.

A work for mixed chorus and string trio (violin viola and cello) to be performed with restraint and majesty. Ikon Of Light was written for the Tallis Scholars. The first performance took place in July 1984 as part of the 1984 Cheltenham International Festival of Music given by the Tallis Scholars and the Leda Trio conducted by Peter Phillips.Instrument Parts.

Set of parts for this string quartet piece.This is a special item which is made to order. Please e-mail our Mail Order Department for further information.

This work was commissioned by the Ravinia Festival Highland Park Illinois for its Centennial Season; by theCheltenham International Festival of Music with funds provided by Arts Council England and the Britten-PearsFoundation;and by the Schubert Ensemble Trust.It was first performed at the Cheltenham Festival on 16th July 2004 at the Pitville Pump Room Cheltenham by Patricia Rozario and the Schubert Ensemble. United States premiere at theRavinia Festival on 29th July 2004 by Patricia Rozario and the Corigliano String Quartet.Written for soprano Tibetan temple bowls string quartet and piano.