(1944 - 2013)
Tavener first came to public attention in 1968 when his avant-garde oratorio The Whale was premiered at the inaugural concert of the London Sinfonietta. As the years progressed his music became increasingly spiritual in conception, contemplative in its idiom, and popular with audiences worldwide. In 1977 he joined the Orthodox Church which was a major inspiration on his work for the following two decades. From the late 1990s he looked for inspiration from alternative sources by his interest in the universalist philosophy, which embraces all great religious traditions: Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam and the spirituality of the American Indians. Most recently he has been inspired by the work of Tolstoy.
John Tavener Composition Timpani and Percussion Requirements
Cain and Abel
Timpani + 3/4 percussion
Tubular bells, tambourine, suspended cymbal, orchestral bass drum, anvil, snare drum, tenor drum, tam tam, xylophone, whip
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Eternity’s Sunrise
No Timpani + 1 percussion
Hand bells
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Iero Oniro (A Sacred Dream)
No Timpani + 1 percussion
Large Tibetan temple bowl, very large tam tam
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Ikon of Eros
No Timpani + 4 percussion
4 Tibetan temple bowls, 4 large tam tams, 3 dholaks
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Mystagogia
2 Timpani + 2 percussion
Large Tibetan temple bowl, handbells
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The Whale
Timpani + 7/8 percussion
Sanctus bells, ratchet, whip, 3 gongs, clash cymbals, hi hat, tam tam, snare drum, orchestral bass drum, marimba, tubular bells, glockenspiel, tenor drum, maracas, 3 bongos, xylophone, 3 tom toms
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