Films&Books

A Day in the Life of John Tavener

BBC Documentary 1971.  Includes footage of John and his Godmother, friends and family, talking about The Whale, with rehearsals of Celtic Requiem.

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South Bank Show

c. 1974 With Melvyn Bragg.  Details to follow.

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Art, Faith & Vision: Sounding Icons

1989.  Includes footage of John composing at home in London and in Evia, Greece.  Narrated by Peter Levi.  Part of a series, including a programme on the artist and friend Cecil Collins.  Article here.

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Glimpses of Paradise

1992.  A film for television by Geoffrey Haydon.  Accompanies a book by the same title.

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Gormangast

Some of Tavener’s music was used in this major television adaptation.

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South Bank Show

Beyond the Veil

1997.  With Melvyn Bragg, shown originally on Channel 4.  Includes footage of John and the family, and John conducting in Greece.

The DVD or VHS of the show is available to buy.

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Children of Men

Directed by Alfonso Cuaron

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Discovering Music

Tavener’s Protecting Veil was the subject of this BBC Radio 3 programme, broadcast in 2008 and featured here.

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Composer of the Week

Tavener has been featured twice on Composer of the Week on Radio 3.  The latest occasion was in 2009, and is featured on the BBC website here.

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BBC4 series on Sacred Music

2010.  Part of the last episode of a four-part series, narrated by Simon Russell-Beale.  Includes footage of Tavener after his illness, with performances by Harry Christopher’s Sixteen.


Books

 

The Music of Silence

by John Tavener, edited by Brian Keeble.  Faber and Faber, London, 1999

Published both as a paperback and in a collector’s limited edition hard back.  A book developed from discussions between Tavener and Keeble, centering on the music and inspiration until the late 1990s.  Available from Amazon and elsewhere.

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Glimpses of Paradise

by Geoffrey Haydon. Indigo, London, 1993

This book accompanies the film made by Geoffrey Haydon.  It is available from Amazon and elsewhere.