Première de la nouvelle oeuvre de Sir Tavener

John Tavener
The Beautiful Names
World Premiere

Tuesday 19 June 2007, 7.30pm
Westminster Cathedral, BBC Radio 3

Sir John Tavener has turned to Islam for inspiration for this
major new work, to be performed by the BBC Symphony
Orchestra in Westminster Cathedral in June. Conducted by Ji_í
B_lohlávek, the BBC SO is joined by the choral forces of John
Mark Ainsley, the BBC Symphony Chorus and the cathedral's
own choristers for this world premiere performance of The
Beautiful Names.

The Beautiful Names sets the 99 names for Allah as culled from
the Qu'ran, sung in Arabic. `Inspiration for the piece came to me
as a vision,' says Tavener, `and the music just came to me
immediately I saw the Arabic word'. He has worked closely with
the Arabist Michael Macdonald to ensure correct pronunciation
and stress - `the sound actually does help create the music'.

The 70-minute work is divided into eleven groups of nine `tonal
zones' and the start of each new section is prefaced by a
magisterial calling out of Allah. Making his strongest reference
yet to Islam, Tavener also calls upon Sufism, Hinduism and
Buddhism in his choice of structure, instrumentation and
tonality.

Tavener's relationship with God has provoked debate over the
years. He converted to Greek Orthodoxy in 1977 and much of his
work has been inspired by the Orthodox liturgy. Tavener is keen,
however, to celebrate his recent embracing of `the perennial
philosophy of such masters as Guenon and Schuon', and
compositions since 2001 have made strong references to
Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam, though Tavener is keen to
insist that `in my prayer-life I remain totally Christian'.

Completed in 2005, The Beautiful Names was commissioned
by HRH The Prince of Wales, who shares the composer's
interest in Greek Orthodoxy and Islam.

The BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus will give a repeat
performance of The Beautiful Names at the _stanbul Music
Festival on Friday 22 June; a tour made possible by the
generous support of the British Council.

This concert will be recorded by BBC Radio 3 for broadcast on
Performance on 3 on Thursday 21 June