Sacred Music Composer John Tavener Is Dead

The greatest contemporary composer of sacred music Sir John Tavener died in Southern England yesterday, November 12th. He was best known in the US for writing "Song for Athene," which was played as a recessional at Lady Diana's 1997 funeral (see video above). Tavener had amicable relationships with each one of the Beatles and recorded for Apple Records. "The Protecting Veil" for cello and orchestra ranks among his most sorrowful but hope-filled pieces, and is music you might recommend to someone in a state of grief. A student of sacred scales, world religious chants, choral and organ music, Tavener spent many years in delicate health, which he said assisted his creative processs. "I live with the thought of death very much in front of me, and this may well have a bearing on the way I think generally." Here's another nice quote from today's NYTimes obit: "I used to fret over manuscripts and think, 'What am I going to do?' Now it's a question of going very quiet, emptying my mind of preconceived ideas and seeing what happens." Here's a lovely, short documentary on this most visionary composer and artist.