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Towards Silence
John Tavener

Medici Quartet / Finzi Quartet / Cavaleri Quartet / Fifth Quadrant

Towards Silence

Price: € 19.95
Format: SACD
Label: Signum Classics
UPC: 0635212022122
Catnr: SIGCD 221
Release date: 01 November 2010
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Label
Signum Classics
UPC
0635212022122
Catalogue number
SIGCD 221
Release date
01 November 2010
Album
Artist(s)
Composer(s)
EN
NL

About the album

This premiere recording of John Tavener's Towards Silence, written for four string quartets and a large Tibetan bowl, explores the nature of consciousness and the process of dying. Tavener had long wanted to write the work and persuaded Professor Paul Robertson (leader of the Medici Quartet and Co-Founder of the Music Mind Spirit Trust) to perform it. However, shortly after the manuscript was completed both men became critically ill and close to death themselves.

By August 2008 Robertson had recovered sufficiently to resuscitate the project, which had now taken on a profound significance for himself and for Tavener. The members of the Medici Quartet immediately agreed to reform and identified young professional string quartets with whom to perform and to act as musical mentors.

Tavener's vision was for all four quartets to be positioned high up in the cathedral dome, invisible to the audience, and arranged in the shape of a cross, bringing the Christian, Bhuddist and Hindu religions together. This sense of space has been captured in the recording.

"The musical scheme is one of progressive etiolation. The chiming of the bowl marks the passing of time, as the music - thrummed pizzicatos, winding melodies, quietly sustained chords - steadily withdraws into itself, contracting into string chords. Eventually they cease, and all that's left is the sound of the bowl, now a sustained sound rather than chimes, and gradually fading, too. For some in the audience it might have been a great spiritual experience, hard to separate from Tavener's own condition." - Andrew Clements, The Guardian (concert review)

De wereldpremière van Towards Silence van Tavener
John Taveners Towards Silence, gecomponeerd voor vier strijkkwartetten en een grote Tibetaanse klankschaal, verkent de aard van het bewustzijn en het proces van sterven. Tavener had het werk al sinds lange tijd willen schrijven en overtuigde Professor Paul Robertson (leider van het Medici Quartet en mede-oprichter van de Music Mind Spirit Trust) om het uit te voeren. Kort nadat het manuscript werd voltooid werden beide mannen echter zelf doodziek.

In augustus 2008 was Robertson voldoende hersteld om het project te reanimeren, dat inmiddels een diepe betekenis voor hem en Tavener had gekregen. De leden van het Medici Quartet waren het er onmiddellijk over eens om te verbeteren en identificeerden jonge professionele strijkkwartetten waarmee ze wilden optreden en traden op als muzikale mentoren.

Volgens Taveners visie moesten de vier kwartetten hoog in de koepel van de kathedraal geplaatst worden, onzichtbaar voor het publiek, en worden opgesteld in de vorm van een kruis, dat de Christelijke, Boeddhistische en Hindoeïstische religies samenbrengt. Dit gevoel van ruimte wordt gevangen in de opname.

The Guardian schreef over de concertuitvoering van Towards Silence: “For some in the audience it might have been a great spiritual experience, hard to separate from Tavener's own condition.”

Composer(s)

John Tavener

Sir John Kenneth Tavener was an English composer, known for his extensive output of religious works, including The Protecting Veil, Song for Athene and The Lamb. Tavener first came to prominence with his cantata The Whale, premiered in 1968. Then aged 24, he was described by The Guardian as 'the musical discovery of the year', while The Times said he was 'among the very best creative talents of his generation.' During his career he became one of the best known and popular composers of his generation, most particularly for The Protecting Veil, which as recorded by cellist Steven Isserlis became a bestselling album, and Song for Athene which was sung at the funeral of Princess Diana. The Lamb featured in the...
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Sir John Kenneth Tavener was an English composer, known for his extensive output of religious works, including The Protecting Veil, Song for Athene and The Lamb.
Tavener first came to prominence with his cantata The Whale, premiered in 1968. Then aged 24, he was described by The Guardian as "the musical discovery of the year", while The Times said he was "among the very best creative talents of his generation." During his career he became one of the best known and popular composers of his generation, most particularly for The Protecting Veil, which as recorded by cellist Steven Isserlis became a bestselling album, and Song for Athene which was sung at the funeral of Princess Diana. The Lamb featured in the soundtrack for Paolo Sorrentino's film The Great Beauty. Tavener was knighted in 2000 for his services to music and won an Ivor Novello Award.

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