Located in the UK
Located in the USA
Located in Europe
- John Tavener
Tears of the Angels (1995)
- Chester Music Ltd (World)
Commissioned by the BT Scottish Ensemble
Performance note: This work was written for an ensemble of 3.3.2.2.1 players (including double bass with a low C extension), but if wished, a larger group could be used.
Programme Note
Tears of the Angels should be played at the extreme breaking point of 'tenderness'. In other words, totally beyond our compassion, and beyond our comprehension. Wrapped in a depth of inner silence of which we have no idea, a state of being, not an emotion, a tender light piercing the agonising darkness of the world. Also, a humility, of which we have no idea, because it is not rooted in an hypocritcal or contrived deprecation of self, but in the blinding vision of God Himself.
Since we are 'human' and not angels, the music can only be 'imagined' by us. All the strings are muted throughout, except for the part marked solo violin. The solo violin is 'the chief among the Angels', and the whole piece must sound 'serene' and 'seemless'.
John Tavener