TRACKLISTING
1 Song for Athene (Alleluia. May flights of angels sing Thee to thy rest) (Shakespeare)
2 Today the Virgin (Mother Thekla)
3 The Tyger (Blake)
4 The Lamb (Blake)
5 The Dormition of the Mother of God
from The Protecting Veil
6 The Protecting Veil
7 A Hymn to the Mother of God
8 What God is we do not know* from The Veil of the Temple
9 Funeral Ikos
10 Threnos
11 God Is with Us (A Christmas Proclamation)
12 A Christmas Round 1.40
13 Elizabeth Full of Grace*

*World Premiere Recording

ABOUT THIS SACD
THE JOHN TAVENER COLLECTION (475 096-2) is a tribute to one of the most influential contemporary British composers.

Sir John Tavener is renowned for his serenely beautiful music of spiritual contemplation, inspired by music of the Orthodox Church which he joined in 1977. After his conversion to the Orthodox religion, he formulated a unique new idiom, often employing a slow, almost minimalist unfolding of melodic material, sublime, mystical and very accessible. Tavener's music has proved enormously popular on disc and this new collection is designed as the 'must have' Tavener recording.

Sir John Tavener received a Knighthood in the 2000 New Year’s Honours list for Services To Music.
THE JOHN TAVENER COLLECTION features NEW recordings of his most popular choral works including Song For Athene (notably performed at the funeral of Diana, Princess Of Wales) and The Lamb. Performances from the English Chamber Orchestra, Temple Church Choir and Holst Singers add extra authenticity to these recordings.

The album also includes 2 PREMIER RECORDINGS:
* Elizabeth Full Of Grace
* Track tbc from The Veil Of The Temple, Tavener's 7 hour long vigil which had its premier performance in July 2003 at Temple Church, in the City of London. Tavener describes the piece as "a journey towards God". Written as 8 cycles to be performed by 120 singers, the piece represents Tavener’s own musical fusion of East meets West and draws on a variety of diverse religions for inspiration.

Please Note:The singers for this new work were divided into several different choirs which sang from different parts of this historic church. The resulting soundworld makes this ideal for the SACD format and a surround sound hybrid SACD release will be available as close to the CD release as possible.