Tavener, John Kenneth (1944– )

English composer. He has written austere vocal works, including the dramatic cantata The Whale (1968) and the opera Thérèse (1979). The Protecting Veil, composed in 1987 for cello and strings alone, became a best-selling classical recording. Other works include Vlepondas for soprano, bass and cello, and Feast of Feasts for chorus, both 1996. His Song for Athene was played at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales.

Tavener studied at the Royal Academy of Music with Lennox Berkeley and David Lumsdaine. He is a member of the Greek Orthodox Church, and draws on Eastern European idioms and Orthodox Christian traditions; he described his chamber opera Mary of Egypt (1991), premiered at Aldeburgh Music Festival in 1992, as ‘a moving icon’. His composition Lamentations and Praises (2002) won a Grammy award. He was knighted in 2000.

Works Choral and voice with orchestra and ensemble three Holy Sonnets for baritone and orchestra (texts by Donne, 1962), dramatic cantata Cain and Abel (1965), cantata The Whale (1966), Introit for the Feast of St John Damascene for soloists, chorus, and orchestra (1968), In alium for soprano, orchestra, and tape (1968), Celtic Requiem (1969), Ultimos Ritos for soloists, speakers, chorus, and orchestra (1969–72), Coplas for soloist, chorus, and tape (1970), Ma fin est mon commencement for tenor, chorus, brass, and percussion (1972), Little Requiem for Father Malachy Lynch (1972), Requiem for Father Malachy (1973); Kyklike kinesis for soprano, chorus, cello, and orchestra (1977), Liturgy of St John Chrysostom for unaccompanied chorus (1978), Akhmatova: rekviem (1980), Risen! for chorus, piano, organ, and orchestra (1980), Funeral Ikos for chorus (1981), Ikon of Light for chorus and string trio (1984), dramatic cantata Eis Thanaton (1987), Resurrection for soloists, actors, chorus, and orchestra (1989), We Shall See Him as he is for soloists, chorus, and ensemble (1992), Hymns of Paradise for bass, chorus, and strings (1993), The Apocalypse for soloists, chorus, and orchestra (1994), Agraphon for soprano and string orchestra (1995); Feast of Feasts and Prayer to the Holy Trinity for choir (1995).

Stage opera Thérèse 1973–76; produced 1979), music theatre Mary of Egypt (1991).

Orchestral piano concerto (1963), The Cappemakers, Little Concerto (1965), Concerto for Orchestra (1968), Palintropos for piano and orchestra (1977).

Chamber Grandma's Footsteps for ensemble (1968), Sappho: Lyrical Fragments for two sopranos and strings (1980), Trisagion for brass quintet (1981); The Protecting Veil for cello and strings (1987), Akathist Of Thanksgiving (1987), Ikon of St Seraphini (1988), The Repentant Thief for clarinet and ensemble (1990), Eternal Memory for cello and ensemble (1992), Vlepondas and The Hidden Face (1996).