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John Tavener

Sue Lawley's castaway is composer John Tavener.

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is the composer John Tavener. He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about the varied inspirations for his music and about how he regards the work of composition as an act of prayer. His music has won the admiration of both serious musicians and the general public - last year his work for cello and strings, The Protecting Veil, held the number one place in the classical charts for several months. Now nearly 50, his was a precocious talent - one of his earliest works was recorded successfully when he was only 24, thanks to the support of the Beatles.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Akathist of Thanksgiving by John Tavener
Book: Apophthegmata Patrum (early writing of Egyptian fathers)
Luxury: Upright piano

Available now

40 minutes

Last on

Fri 23 Sep 1994 09:05
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Joanna Trollope

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Music Played

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • John Tavener

      Akathist of Thanksgiving

      Orchestra: Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Symphony Orchestra & Singers

      • Akathist of Thanksgiving.
      • Sony Classical.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    St Matthew Passion - Kommt, ihr Töchter

    Choir: Bach Choir Orchestra: Jacques Orchestra

    • St Matthew Passion.
    • Decca.

  • Manchester Schools Choir

    The Dance Duet from Hansel & Gretel

    • Hello Children Everywhere.
    • EMI.

  • Patriarchal Choirs of Constantinople

    The Holy Passion (Greek)

    • The Holy Passion.
    • OMK.

  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Nutcracker Suite

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra Conducotr: Andre Previn

    • Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker.
    • Classics For Pleasure.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Pa-Pa-Pa-Papagena (from The Magic Flute)

    Soloist: Walter Berry & Emmy Loose Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic

    • Mozart: Die Zauberflote.
    • Decca.

  • The Dagar Brothers

    Ragar Lalit

    • Maestro's Choice Series One.
    • Music Today.

  • John Tavener

    Blessed Duet (from Mary of Egypt)

    Soloist: Patricia Rozario & Stephen Varcoe

    • Mary of Egypt.
    • Collins Classics.

  • Book Choice

    • Apophthegmata Patrum (early writing of Egyptian fathers)

  • Luxury Choice

    • Upright piano

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest John Tavener

Broadcasts

  • Sun 18 Sep 1994 12:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Fri 23 Sep 1994 09:05
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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