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John Tavener
Life Time
28 January 1944 - 12 November 2013
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Sir John Kenneth Tavener is a British composer known for his religious works. Tavern (January 28, 1944 – November 12, 2013) was born in Wembley, in the family of a direct descendant of the 16th century English organist composer John Tavener. At the age of 12, John first heard Mozart’s The Magic Flute and loved it for the rest of his life. At the same time, Tavern became acquainted with Stravinsky’s last work, a play for the choir and orchestra Canticum Sacrum, and it impressed him so much that it
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Sir John Kenneth Tavener is a British composer known for his religious works.
Tavern (January 28, 1944 – November 12, 2013) was born in Wembley, in the family of a direct descendant of the 16th century English organist composer John Tavener.
At the age of 12, John first heard Mozart’s The Magic Flute and loved it for the rest of his life. At the same time, Tavern became acquainted with Stravinsky’s last work, a play for the choir and orchestra Canticum Sacrum, and it impressed him so much that it inspired him to become a composer.
John first attracted public attention in 1968 with his oratorio The Whale, which is based on the biblical legend of Jonah. Later, the composer constantly drew inspiration from religion, he even converted to Orthodoxy, believing that this religion and Russian culture as a whole is what still preserved the true essence of Christianity.
He used Tavern as inspiration and folklore sources, American Indian culture, Sufi music, Coptic art.
He suffered from Marfan syndrome all his life. The composer died at the age of 69.