The Veil of the Temple
The Veil of the Temple is a piece of choral music by British composer Sir John Tavener. Identified by Tavener as "the supreme achievement of my life",[1][2] it is set for four choirs, several orchestras and soloists and lasts at least seven hours.[3] It is based on text from a number of religions, and received its world premiere performance at the Temple Church, London in June 2003.[4]
Structure[edit]
The piece is split into eight cycles. The first seven follow the same structure, with each cycle being a higher key than the previous.[4] For example, Cycles I to VII open with a soprano solo.[5] This is then followed by a setting of the kyrie in either English or the original Greek. Successive cycles add additional musical complexity and words to each movement, with the result that cycle I takes about 20 minutes to perform, but cycle VII takes 1.5 hours.[6]
Cycles I to VII use the following structure:[5]
| Title | Section | Sung by | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mystical Love Song of the Sufis | Solo soprano | ||
| Primordial Call | Orchestra | ||
| God's Creation | Kyrie 1 | Choir | |
| Tohu, Vohu, Tahem. Logos | Choir, with soloists | ||
| In the beginning | Solo bass | ||
| Kyrie 2 | Choir | ||
| You mantle yourself in light. | Choir | ||
| Kyrie 3 | Choir | ||
| Outside the Gates of Paradise | O Blessed Paradise | Choir, with soloists | |
| Kyrie 4 | Choir | ||
| What God is. | Choir | ||
| Kyrie 5 | Choir | ||
| Our Father | Lords Prayer | Choir | |
| Kyrie 6 | Choir | ||
| Holy Mary | O Mary Theotokos. | Choir | |
| Hail, O Mother of God! | Choir | ||
| Here I stand now praying. | Choir | ||
| In thee rejoiceth. | Choir | Cycles V to VII only | |
| Awed by the beauty | Choir | Cycles V to VII only | |
| Alleelouia 1 | Choir | Cycles V to VII only | |
| Kyrie 7 | Choir | ||
| Alleluia. Theos Erastos | Alleelouia 2 | Choir | |
| Kyrie 8 | Basses | ||
| Kyrie 9 | Choir | ||
| Gospel of St John | Gospel of John | Solo Bass | |
| Alleelouia 3 | Choir | ||
| Thrice-Holy Hymn - Resurrection | Te re rem. | Choir | Not cycle VII |
| Agios ischyros. | Choir | Not cycle VII | |
| Have mercy on me, O God. | Choir | Not cycle VII | |
| Agios Athanatos 1 | Choir | Not cycle VII | |
| In Thy kingdom remember us, O Lord. | Choir | Not cycle VII | |
| Beatitudes of St. Isaac the Syrian | The Beatitudes | single voice part | Not cycle VII |
| Ágiós Athánatos 2 | Choir | Not cycle VII | |
| Christos anestee | Choir | Not cycle VII | |
| Psalm | Solo Bass | Not cycle VII |
External links[edit]
- Article by composer on johntavener.com
- Discussion of this piece and Tavener by Stephen Layton
- Notes for CD of abridged concert version
References[edit]
- ^ Tavener, John. "The Veil of the Temple". Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- ^ Anastasia Tsioulcas (12 November 2013). "Remembering 'Holy Minimalist' Composer John Tavener". NPR Music. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
- ^ Michael White, "A Time for Reflection", BBC Music Magazine, Vol. 22 No. 2 (December 2013): p. 29.
- ^ a b Layton, Stephen. "Sir John Tavener (1944 – 2013)". Retrieved 14 November 2013.
- ^ a b "The Veil of the Temple" (PDF). CD notes. Chester Music. 2003. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
- ^ "The Veil of the Temple" (PDF). CD notes. Signum Records Ltd. 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
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