John Tavener facts for kids
Sir John Kenneth Tavener (born January 28, 1944 – died November 12, 2013) was an English composer. He was famous for writing many religious songs for choirs. Some of his most well-known pieces include The Lamb (1982), The Protecting Veil (1988), and Song for Athene (1993).
Tavener became famous in 1968 with his cantata The Whale. He was only 24 years old then. Critics called him a "musical discovery" and one of the "very best creative talents" of his time. His music became very popular. The Protecting Veil, played by cellist Steven Isserlis, became a best-selling album. Song for Athene was even sung at the funeral of Princess Diana. His song The Lamb was used in the movie The Great Beauty. Tavener also wrote A New Beginning for the Millennium celebrations in London in 1999. He was made a knight in 2000 for his contributions to music.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Discovering His Passion
John Tavener was born in Wembley, London, on January 28, 1944. His parents ran a building business. His father was also an organist at a church. When John was 12, he heard Mozart's The Magic Flute at Glyndebourne. He loved this opera for his whole life. That same year, he heard Stravinsky's Canticum Sacrum. He later said this piece "woke me up" and made him want to be a composer.
Learning and Growing
John became a music student at Highgate School. Another famous composer, John Rutter, was also a student there. The school choir often sang for the BBC. This gave John experience singing in big works like Mahler's Third Symphony. He started writing music at Highgate. He also became a good pianist. In 1961, he became an organist and choirmaster at a church in Kensington. He held this job for 14 years. In 1962, Tavener went to the Royal Academy of Music. There, he decided to focus only on composing music.
Becoming a Famous Composer
His Big Break: The Whale
Tavener first became well-known in 1968 with his cantata The Whale. This piece was based on the Bible story of Jonah. It was first performed at the opening of the Queen Elizabeth Hall. John's younger brother, Roger, was working for Ringo Starr of the Beatles. He convinced the Beatles to record The Whale on their Apple Records label in 1970. The next year, Tavener started teaching music in London. Another work, A Celtic Requiem, also released by Apple, impressed composer Benjamin Britten. This led to Tavener being asked to write an opera. His opera, Thérèse, was performed in 1979.
Music for Important Moments
Tavener continued to explore different cultures and spiritual ideas in his music. One of his most successful pieces was "The Lamb." He wrote this short choral song in 1982 for his nephew's third birthday. It is often sung as a Christmas carol. Other important works include The Akathist of Thanksgiving (1987). This was written to celebrate 1,000 years of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Protecting Veil (1987) was first played by cellist Steven Isserlis. Song for Athene (1993) became famous worldwide. It was performed at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997.
Exploring Different Sounds
Tavener's Fall and Resurrection (2000) used unusual instruments. These included a ram's horn and Ney flute. He dedicated this work to Prince Charles, who became a good friend. In 2003, Tavener wrote a very long piece called The Veil of the Temple. It lasts at least seven hours! This work uses texts from many different religions. Tavener called it "the supreme achievement of my life." He also wrote Prayer of the Heart (2004) for the singer Björk. In 2007, he composed The Beautiful Names. This piece sets the 99 names of God in the Muslim tradition to music, sung in Arabic.
John Tavener explored many religious traditions in his music. He said he wanted his music to be "more universalist." He wanted to include "other colors, other languages." He remained a Christian but was open to other spiritual ideas. His final opera, Krishna, was finished in 2005. It is planned to be performed in 2024.
His Unique Musical Style
At first, Tavener's music was influenced by composers like Igor Stravinsky. Later, his music became simpler and more open. He used wide musical spaces and clear, simple melodies. He felt a connection with composer Arvo Pärt. They both shared a similar religious background and liked clear, transparent sounds in their music.
Important Moments in His Career
- 1968 – The Whale was first performed. It was later recorded by the Beatles' Apple label.
- 1989 – The first performance of The Protecting Veil in London.
- 2000 – Fall and Resurrection was first performed in St Paul's Cathedral, London.
- 2000 – He was made a knight in the Millennium Honours List.
- 2003 – The very long piece The Veil of the Temple was first performed.
- 2006 – He contributed music to the film Children of Men.
- 2007 – The Beautiful Names was first performed. It sets the 99 names of Allah to music.
- 2013 – His song The Lamb was included in the movie The Great Beauty.
His Life and Legacy
Health and Family
In 1974, John Tavener married Victoria Maragopoulou, but their marriage lasted only eight months. In 1991, he married Maryanna Schaefer. They had three children: Theodora, Sofia, and Orlando. John had many health problems throughout his life. He had a stroke when he was in his thirties. He also had heart surgery and two heart attacks. In 1990, he was diagnosed with Marfan syndrome, a condition that affects connective tissue.
Remembering Sir John
Sir John Tavener passed away at age 69 on November 12, 2013. He died at his home in Dorset. Many people in the music world shared tributes to him. These included composers John Rutter and Sir Peter Maxwell Davies. Prince Charles also sent a tribute.
His funeral was held at Winchester Cathedral on November 28, 2013. The service followed the Orthodox Christian tradition. About 700 people attended. John Rutter said Tavener had a "very rare gift." He could make an audience "come to a deep silence." Steven Isserlis said, "He had his own voice. He wasn't writing to be popular – he was writing the music he had to write."
Famous Works by Sir John Tavener
- The Whale (1965–66)
- A Celtic Requiem (1969)
- Thérèse (1973–76; opera)
- The Lamb (1984)
- Akathist of Thanksgiving (1986–87)
- The Protecting Veil (1987)
- Song for Athene (1993)
- A New Beginning (1999)
- Fall and Resurrection (2000)
- The Veil of the Temple (2003)
- The Beautiful Names (2007)
- The Death of Ivan Ilyich (2012)
Selected Recordings
- The Whale, Apple Records
- The Protecting Veil, Virgin
- The Veil of the Temple, RCA
- Missa Wellensis, Signum Records
See also
In Spanish: John Tavener para niños
