Podcasts about sir john tavener

It's an exciting first for Composing Myself this week, with this episode's guest holding a position in none other than The Royal Household of the United Kingdom. Judith Weir - Master of The King's Music (and former Master of The Queen's Music) – talks to Wise Music Group CEO Dave Holley and Creative Director Gill Graham about an illustrious life of creative adventure, from a fortuitous mentorship by Sir John Tavener to being appointed to a Royal position by Queen Elizabeth II. Stops along the way include the Battle of Stamford Bridge (“an iconic moment in English history”); how deadlines – “the composer's curse” – are actually a big help; Judith's inspiring work in the broader community; why singers are “the most amazing people in our profession”, and the myriad joys of blogging. A life less ordinary reflected on by a wonderfully eloquent composer.https://www.judithweir.com/Judith Weir (b 1954 to Scottish parents in Cambridge, England) studied composition with John Tavener, Robin Holloway and Gunther Schuller. On leaving Cambridge University in 1976 she taught in England and Scotland, and in the mid-1990s became Associate Composer with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and Artistic Director of Spitalfields Festival. She was a Visiting Professor at Princeton (2001) Harvard (2004) and Cardiff (2006-13) and in 2014 was appointed Master of the Queen's Music. Since Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II died in September 2022, Weir is now Master of The King's Music. From 2015 to 2019 she was Associate Composer to the BBC Singers.She is the composer of several operas (written for Kent Opera, Scottish Opera, ENO and Bregenz) which have been widely performed. She has written orchestral music for the BBC Symphony, Boston Symphony and Minnesota Orchestras. Much of her music has been recorded, and is available on the NMC, Delphian and Signum labels. She blogs about her cultural experiences at www.judithweir.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jamie McKee looks at George Herbert's poem 'Love Bade Me Welcome' and William Blake's 'The Lamb', both of which were set to music by Sir John Tavener, the great English composer. Jamie is a convert to Catholicism who came to the faith through exploring questions about fundamental physics during his studies at Oxford University. He runs a group for young adults at the Rosary Shrine in London called 'Deo Gratias', which explores the Catholic faith and its expressions in art and culture.

Synopsis Late in 2013, the musical world was gearing up to celebrate the 70th birthday of British composer John Tavener, but sadly he died, so his 70th birthday, which fell on today's date in 2014, became a memorial tribute instead. Tavener had suffered from ill health throughout his life: a stroke in his thirties, heart surgery and the removal of a tumor in his forties, and two subsequent heart attacks. In his early twenties, Tavener became famous in 1968 with his avant-garde cantata entitled The Whale, based loosely on the Old Testament story of Jonah. That work caught the attention of one of The Beatles, and a recording of it was released on The Beatles' own Apple label. Tavener converted to the Russian Orthodox Church in 1977, and his music became increasingly spiritual. Millions who watched TV coverage of the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997, were deeply moved by his “Song for Athene,” which was performed to telling effect as Diana's casket left Westminster Abbey. Taverner was knighted in 2000, becoming Sir John Tavener In 2003, Tavener's Ikon of Eros, commissioned for the Centennial of the Minnesota Orchestra, and premiered at St. Paul's Cathedral—the one in St. Paul, Minnesota, that is, not the one in London—and Tavener came to Minnesota for the event. Music Played in Today's Program Sir John Tavener (1944-2013) Ikon of Eros Jorja Fleezanis, vn; Minnesota Chorale; Minnesota Orchestra; Paul Goodwin, conductor. Reference Recording 102 On This Day Births 1791 - French opera composer Louis Joseph F. Herold, in Paris; 1898 - Italian-American composer Vittorio Rieti, in Alexandria, Egypt; 1944 - British composer Sir John Tavener, in London; Deaths 1935 - Russian composer Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov, age 75, in Moscow; 1947 - Venezuelan-born French composer Reynaldo Hahn, age 72, in Paris; Premieres 1725 - Bach: Sacred Cantata No. 92 ("Ich hab in Gottes Herz und Sinn") performed on Septuagesimae Sunday after Epiphany as part of Bach's second annual Sacred Cantata cycle in Leipzig (1724/25); 1828 - Schubert: Piano Trio in Bb, Op. 99 (D. 898), at a private performance by Ignaz Schuppanzigh (violin), Josef Linke (cello), and Carl Maria von Bocklet (piano); 1830 - Auber: opera "Fra Diavolo" in Paris at the Opéra-Comique; 1876 - Tchaikovsky: "Serenade mélancolique" for violin and orchestra, in Moscow (Julian date: Jan. 18); 1897 - Glazunov: Symphony No. 5, in London; 1915 - Ravel: Piano Trio in a, in Paris, by Gabriel Wilaume (violin), Louis Feuillard (cello), and Alfredo Casella (piano); 1916 - Granados: opera "Goyescas," at the Metropolitan Opera in New York; 1927 - Copland: Piano Concerto, by the Boston Symphony conducted by Serge Koussevitzky, with the composer as soloist; 1941 - Copland: "Quiet City," at Town Hall in New York City by the Little Symphony conducted by Daniel Saidenberg; This music is based on incidental music Copland wrote for Irwin Shaw's play of the same name produced by the Group Theater in New York in 1939; 1944 - Bernstein: Symphony No. 1 ("Jeremiah"), at the Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh by the Pittsburgh Symphony conducted by the composer, with mezzo-soprano Jennie Tourel as vocal soloist; 1972 - Scott Joplin: opera "Treemonisha" (orchestrated by T.J. Anderson), in Atlanta; 1990 - Joan Tower: Flute Concerto, at Carnegie Hall in New York, with soloist Carol Wincenc and the American Composers Orchestra, Hugh Wolff, conducting; 1995 - Elinor Armer: “Island Earth” (to a text by Sci-Fi writer Usula K. Le Guin), at the University of California, Berkeley, by the various San Francisco choirs and the Women's Philharmonic, conducted by JoAnn Falletta; On the same program were the premiere performance's of Chen Yi's “Antiphony” for orchestra and Augusta Read Thomas's “Fantasy” for piano and orchestra (with piano soloist Sara Wolfensohn); 1997 - Morten Lauridsen: “Mid-Winter Songs” (final version) for chorus and orchestra, by the Los Angeles Master Chorale, John Currie conducting; Earlier versions of this work with piano and chamber orchestra accompaniment had premiered in 1981, 1983, and 1985 at various Californian venues; 2000 - André Previn: "Diversions," in Salzburg, Austria, by the Vienna Philharmonic, the composer conducting; Others 1742 - Jonathan Swift, Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin (and the author of "Gulliver's Travels"), objects to the cathedral singers taking part in performances of Handel's works while the composer is in that city (Gregorian date: Feb. 8); Rehearsals for the premiere performance of Handel's "Messiah" would begin in April of that year, involving the choirs of both Christ Church and St. Patrick's Cathedrals in Dublin; 1971 - William Bolcom completes his "Poltergeist" Rag (dedicated to Teresa Sterne, a one-time concert pianist who was then a producer for Nonesuch Records); According to the composer's notes, the "Poltergeist" Rag was written "in a converted garage next to a graveyard in Newburgh, N.Y." Links and Resources On Tavener

As the Christmas festival continues, Roy Jenkins explores – with the help of a range of guests – the significance of one of the best known seasonal texts. The Magnificat is an outpouring of joy from Mary, on hearing the news from the Archangel Gabriel that she is to give birth to Jesus. The text, from St Luke's Gospel, will have been heard in many churches during the past few weeks as part of the telling of the Christmas story. There have been countless musical settings down the centuries – ranging from single line Gregorian chant to more florid settings from JS Bach and Palestrina, and in the present day from composers such as John Tavener and Arvo Pärt. As the Magnificat has an important place in Roman Catholic and Anglican liturgy, there are numerous settings for singing in the daily round of Vespers and Choral Evensongs in our cathedrals and churches. On the face of it, the Magnificat or “Mary's Song” as it's sometime known, isn't such good news for the mighty who will be unseated, and the rich who will be sent empty away. The German pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer who was executed by the Nazis, described the Magnificat as “the most passionate, the wildest… the most revolutionary hymn ever sung.” But after a year during which we have seen the start of a war, a rise in the cost of living, a widening of the gap between rich and poor, continuing pestilence and the ravages of climate change, what hope can we glean from it for 2023? Our guests: The Rt Revd Mary Stallard, Assistant Bishop of Bangor. Andrew Wilson-Dickson, composer and Cardiff-based musician. Dr Emma Gibbins, Director of Music, St Woolos Cathedral, Newport. Revd Dr Craig Gardiner, Tutor at South Wales Baptist College and Cardiff University. Sean Stillman, Minister at Zac's Place, Swansea, and International President of God Squad. Revd Dr Jennie Hurd, Chair of Wales Synod Cymru of the Methodist Church. The programme includes extracts of settings of the Magnificat by Sir John Tavener, JS Bach, Charles Villiers Stanford, Richard Shephard, and Margaret Rizza.

Yule 2022 – IV14th-21st CenturiesWe hear anonymous and traditional works and works by Thomas Tallis, Jacobus Vaet, Michael Praetorius, Alessandro Scarlatti, Christoph Weyse, Heinrich Kaminski, Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane, Irving Berlin, Mel Tormé, Myroslav Skoryk, Franz Gruber, Sir John Tavener, John Rutter, and Peter Warlock.167 Minutes – Week of 2022 December 19

Good News: A group of citizens is pushing to create an enormous car-free zone in the center of Berlin! Link HERE! The Good Word: A gorgeous short poem by Wendell Berry, “The Peace of Wild Things” Good To Know: A wonderful bit of trivia about vinyl album sales! Good News: South Korea is planning to […]

Synopsis Many good things come in threes – at least William Bolcom seems to think so. On today's date in 1971, in a converted garage next to a graveyard in Newburgh, New York, American composer and pianist William Bolcom put the finishes touches to the second of three piano pieces he collectively titled “Ghost Rags.” “Ghost Rag” No. 2 was titled “Poltergeist” and dedicated to Tracey Sterne, who at that time was a dynamic record producer at Nonesuch Records.  In her youth Sterne pursued a career as a concert pianist, but in the 1960s and 70s was responsible for assembling the Nonesuch label's astonishingly diverse catalog of old, new and world music.   “Ghost Rag” No. 3, titled “Dream Shadows,” was described by Bolcom as a “white rag” which evoked “the era of white telephones and white pianos” and “was in the white key of C Major.” Bolcom dedicated this rag to his fellow composer, William Albright. And Bolcom's ‘Ghost Rag” No. 1, which has proved to be the most popular of the three, was titled “Graceful Ghost.”  Bolcom dedicated this music to the memory of his father, whose benign spirit Bolcom said he often felt hovering around his piano while he played at night. Music Played in Today's Program William Bolcom (b. 1938) — Graceful Ghost Rags (Paul Jacobs, piano) Nonesuch 79006 On This Day Births 1791 - French opera composer Louis Joseph F. Herold, in Paris; 1898 - Italian-American composer Vittorio Rieti, in Alexandria, Egypt; 1944 - British composer Sir John Tavener, in London; Deaths 1935 - Russian composer Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov, age 75, in Moscow; 1947 - Venezuelan-born French composer Reynaldo Hahn, age 72, in Paris; Premieres 1725 - Bach: Sacred Cantata No. 92 ("Ich hab in Gottes Herz und Sinn") performed on Septuagesimae Sunday after Epiphany as part of Bach's second annual Sacred Cantata cycle in Leipzig (1724/25); 1828 - Schubert: Piano Trio in Bb, Op. 99 (D. 898), at a private performance by Ignaz Schuppanzigh (violin), Josef Linke (cello), and Carl Maria von Bocklet (piano); 1830 - Auber: opera "Fra Diavolo" in Paris at the Opéra-Comique; 1876 - Tchaikovsky: "Serenade mélancolique" for violin and orchestra, in Moscow (Julian date: Jan. 18); 1897 - Glazunov: Symphony No. 5, in London; 1915 - Ravel: Piano Trio in a, in Paris, by Gabriel Wilaume (violin), Louis Feuillard (cello), and Alfredo Casella (piano); 1916 - Granados: opera "Goyescas," at the Metropolitan Opera in New York; 1927 - Copland: Piano Concerto, by the Boston Symphony conducted by Serge Koussevitzky, with the composer as soloist; 1941 - Copland: "Quiet City," at Town Hall in New York City by the Little Symphony conducted by Daniel Saidenberg; This music is based on incidental music Copland wrote for Irwin Shaw's play of the same name produced by the Group Theater in New York in 1939; 1944 - Bernstein: Symphony No. 1 ("Jeremiah"), at the Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh by the Pittsburgh Symphony conducted by the composer, with mezzo-soprano Jennie Tourel as vocal soloist; 1972 - Scott Joplin: opera "Treemonisha" (orchestrated by T.J. Anderson), in Atlanta; 1990 - Joan Tower: Flute Concerto, at Carnegie Hall in New York, with soloist Carol Wincenc and the American Composers Orchestra, Hugh Wolff, conducting; 1995 - Elinor Armer: “Island Earth” (to a text by Sci-Fi writer Usula K. Le Guin), at the University of California, Berkeley, by the various San Francisco choirs and the Women's Philharmonic, conducted by JoAnn Falletta; On the same program were the premiere performance's of Chen Yi's “Antiphony” for orchestra and Augusta Read Thomas's “Fantasy” for piano and orchestra (with piano soloist Sara Wolfensohn); 1997 - Morten Lauridsen: “Mid-Winter Songs” (final version) for chorus and orchestra, by the Los Angeles Master Chorale, John Currie conducting; Earlier versions of this work with piano and chamber orchestra accompaniment had premiered in 1981, 1983, and 1985 at various Californian venues; 2000 - André Previn: "Diversions," in Salzburg, Austria, by the Vienna Philharmonic, the composer conducting; Others 1742 - Jonathan Swift, Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin (and the author of "Gulliver's Travels"), objects to the cathedral singers taking part in performances of Handel's works while the composer is in that city (Gregorian date: Feb. 8); Rehearsals for the premiere performance of Handel's "Messiah" would begin in April of that year, involving the choirs of both Christ Church and St. Patrick's Cathedrals in Dublin; 1971 - William Bolcom completes his "Poltergeist" Rag (dedicated to Teresa Sterne, a one-time concert pianist who was then a producer for Nonesuch Records); According to the composer's notes, the "Poltergeist" Rag was written "in a converted garage next to a graveyard in Newburgh, N.Y." Links and Resources On William Bolcom

The Modern Period – Part VI This week we hear works by Maurice Ravel, Alban Berg, Darius Milhaud, Erich Wolfgang Korngold, George Gershwin, George Antheil, Aaron Copland, Samuel Barber, Wendy Carlos, Sir John Tavener, and High Priest Peter H. Gilmore. 171 Minutes – Week of February 01, 2021

Yule – Part I This week we hear anonymous works and works by Leonel Power, Josquin des Prez, Hans Leo Hassler, Heinrich Biber, Johann Sebastian Bach, Louis-Claude d’Acquin, Francesco Durante, Karol Szymanowski, Olivier Messiaen, Arvo Pärt, Sir John Tavener, and Sir James MacMillan. 174 Minutes – Week of November 30, 2020

Steven Isserlis tells John Wilson about his new album of late works by Sir John Tavener. It is a very personal project: Tavener and Isserlis were friends, the composer wrote pieces for the cellist and Isserlis gave the first performances of some of Tavener's works. His music was greatly influenced by the liturgy and traditions of the Orthodox Church, but this album reveals his openness to other religions. One piece echoes the call and response form of the Anglican church, in another the cello duets with a Sufi singer. There isn't a piece for solo cello so Isserlis plays part of Tavener's famous piece, The Protecting Veil, which was written for him, . Avni Doshi’s debut novel Burnt Sugar was longlisted for the Booker Prize two days before it was even published in the UK, and just weeks later she gave birth to her second child. Now she’s on the shortlist and has a three month old to look after as well as a toddler, but she’s found the time to join some readers for Front Row’s Booker Prize Book Group. Avni answers listeners questions about her story of a fractious mother daughter relationship, set in and around Pune, India. The latest announcement about renewed lockdown restrictions which will remain in place until at least December 3rd have thrown the plans of theatres, museums and many other public institutions into disarray. They had just emerged from the first lockdown and reworked their plans to incorporate social distancing. Now all that effort seems to have come to naught as new rules have been announced. John Wilson speaks to Matt Hemley from The Stage and Adrian Vinken, CEO at Theatre Royal Plymouth, whose Christmas show may have to be cancelled…again. Presenter: John Wilson Producer: Simon Richardson

Sir John Tavener's The Protecting Veil was premiered at the BBC Proms 30 years ago. To coincide with the anniversary, a new recording has been issued by Signum Classics which finds Matthew Barley directing Sinfonietta Riga from the cello - James Jolly meets him.

Writer Mark Vernon has been to see the Roman Temple of Mithras that has been restored in the City of London. He joins Edward to discuss who the deity Mithras was and what the cult's followers believed. While many Hindus avoid eating beef because they consider the cow as sacred - milk and clarified butter are regularly used in religious worship. But a campaign's been launched by a Hindu vegan calling on temples to abolish all use of dairy. Vishva Samani reports. A new report from the University of Exeter says religious education teaching is 'incoherent, confused and outdated.' Professor Rod Freathy, and Ben Wood, vice chair of the National Association of Teachers of Religious Education debate. The Voce Chamber Choir has released a new disc "99 Words" a tribute to the late Sir John Tavener. It features a number of works by him and by composer Roxanna Panfunik. Roxanna explains why she is inspired by Tavener. Shingai Nyoka reports from Harare on the latest situation in Zimbabwe. Madeline Davies from The Church Times tells Edward why the Greek Orthodox Church is selling it's land in Israel. A British citizen Jagtar Singh has been arrested in the Punjab over allegations he was involved in funding the killings of Hindu nationalist leaders. Dr. Jasjit Singh researcher of Sikh religion at Leeds University and journalist, Amardeep Bassey discuss Sikh fundamentalism in the UK and the impact it's having in India. Producers Carmel Lonergan Rajeev Gupta Editor Amanda Hancox Photo Credit: Temple of Mithras dig 1954 photo by Robert Hitchman (c)️MOLA.

Nick Davies is professor of behavioural ecology at the University of Cambridge and an expert on cuckoos. Based at Wicken Fen, the National Trust reserve in Cambridgeshire, Davies has unravelled some of the key mysteries of this trickster of the bird world using stuffed cuckoos and dummy birds eggs. Cuckoos are so swift in laying their eggs (only one is laid per nest and the process is over in as little as 10 seconds), and so clever at disguising their eggs, that host birds are often uncertain whether an odd egg in the clutch is a cuckoo egg or one of their own. Cuckoo - Cheating By Nature by Nick Davies is published by Bloomsbury. Patricia Rozario OBE is an opera singer who is starring in Clocks 1888: the greener which is based on the true histories of ayahs or nannies in India who were employed by British colonials to look after their children and sometimes brought back to England. Born in Mumbai, Patricia studied at the Guildhall School of Music and at the National Opera Studio. She has enjoyed a wide-ranging career in opera, concert work, recording and broadcasting. Her voice has inspired many of the world's leading composers to collaborate with her, notably Arvo Pärt and Sir John Tavener, who alone wrote over 30 works for her. Clocks 1888: the greener is on tour. Lachlan Goudie is an artist whose late father was the Scottish figurative painter, Alexander Goudie. Distinguished as a portrait painter, Alexander painted the Queen, lord chancellors and celebrities including Billy Connolly. He was also notorious for a series of nude self-portraits in which he took on the guise of mythical figures including Bacchus and Neptune. A retrospective of his work is being exhibited at London's Mall Galleries. An artist in his own right, Lachlan spent five years at the Govan shipyard in Glasgow recording the construction of Britain's new aircraft carrier the Queen Elizabeth. Alexander Goudie RP RGI - A Retrospective is at Mall Galleries Sita Brand is a storyteller and founder and director of Settle Stories which runs the annual Settle Stories Festival in Yorkshire. Born in India, she moved to the UK as a teenager. She learned her love of storytelling from her mother, a school librarian, and her father who was a refugee in World War 2. She is passionate about using stories to promote understanding between people and their cultures. She performs Down the Rabbit Hole at the Settle Stories Festival 2016.

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales attended a Service of Thanksgiving for the Life and Work of Sir John Tavener at Westminster Abbey on Wednesday 11th June at 12 noon.

With Mark Lawson, The composer Sir John Tavener died today. Famous for his choral pieces The Lamb and Song for Athene - which was sung at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales - and for The Protecting Veil, for cello and orchestra. Nicholas Kenyon discusses his life and work. Plus a recent Front Row interview with Tavener himself. Curtain: Poirot's Last Case will see David Suchet making his final appearance as Agatha Christie's iconic Belgian detective. Crime writers Dreda Say Mitchell and Natasha Cooper, with crime fiction specialist Jeff Park, discuss the TV drama alongside a new translation of Pietr the Latvian: the first novel in Georges Simenon's Maigret series. Don Juan is given a modern day treatment in Don Jon, written, directed and staring Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Also starring Scarlett Johansson and Julianne Moore, the comedy explores how films can lead to unrealistic expectations when it comes to finding love and a lasting relationship. Bel Mooney reviews. Producer Claire Bartleet.

Andrew Marr returns to Start the Week for a special programme on the early 17th century poet George Herbert. His English poetry was never published in his lifetime, but he hoped it would act as consolation 'of any dejected poor soul', and his latest biographer John Drury argues that with its focus on love over theology, his poetry still speaks to and for modern readers. The composer Sir John Tavener and the writer Jeanette Winterson discuss prayer in a secular age, and the power of music and words to soothe the soul. This programme was recorded before the sad announcement of Sir John Tavener's death. Producer: Katy Hickman.

Sarah Montague speaks to Sir John Tavener, one of Britain's most celebrated composers. He says his music is for God - even referring to it as a form of divine dictation. Forty years ago, his work was sometimes dismissed as bland, populist, new age. But over time he has defied the critics - the Protecting Veil was one of the biggest selling classical albums ever, and his Song for Athene was played at the funeral of Princess Diana. Having been ill for much of his life, he says that everything changed after he nearly died from a heart attack six years ago. How did this experience affect his view of life, his music, and his faith?(Image:Sir John Tavener (left) and Simon Russell Beale. Credit: BBC)