John Tavener's "The Veil of the Temple" is a profound and expansive choral work that invites listeners into a sacred and contemplative space. Released on Signum Records in 2013, this monumental album spans nearly two and a half hours, divided into eight cycles that explore themes of spirituality, mysticism, and divine connection. Tavener, known for his minimalist style and deep spiritual undertones, weaves together ancient texts and liturgical traditions, creating a tapestry of sound that is both meditative and transcendent.
The album begins with "The Veil of the Temple, Cycle I," setting the stage for a journey through various religious and philosophical themes. Each cycle is meticulously crafted, featuring works like "Primordial Call," "God's Creation," and "Beatitudes of St Isaac the Syrian," which draw from Christian, Sufi, and other mystical traditions. Tavener's compositional genius shines through in pieces like "The Lord's Prayer" and "Jesus Prayer," where the minimalist choral textures evoke a sense of timelessness and reverence.
"The Veil of the Temple" is not just a collection of choral pieces but a cohesive exploration of the divine, blending Eastern and Western spiritual practices. The final cycle, "Cycle VIII," culminates in works like "Rending of the Veil of the Temple: Maya Atma" and "New Jerusalem - Upanishad Hymn," which fuse Christian and Hindu traditions, symbolizing a universal quest for spiritual enlightenment.
This album is a testament to Tavener's ability to create music that resonates on a deeply spiritual level. Whether you are a fan of choral music, minimalism, or simply seeking a profound listening experience, "The Veil of the Temple" offers a rich and immersive journey into the sacred and the sublime.
Tracks
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle I: I. Mystical Love Song of the SufisJohn Tavener, Brass Ensemble of the English Chamber Orchestra, Patricia Rozario, Dirk Campbell, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle I: II. Primordial CallJohn Tavener, Trebles of the Temple Church Choir, John Thurgood, Adrian Peacock, David Barnard, Simon Wall, Jeremy Birchall, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle II: I. Primordial CallJohn Tavener, Brass Ensemble of the English Chamber Orchestra, John Thurgood, Hugh Benson, Christopher Kassam, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle II: II. God's CreationJohn Tavener, The Holst Singers, The Temple Church Choir, Adrian Peacock, David Barnard, Simon Wall, Jeremy Birchall, Hugh Benson, Christopher Kassam, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle II: III. Outside the Gates of ParadiseJohn Tavener, The Holst Singers, The Temple Church Choir, Simon Wall, Nathan Vale, Hugh Benson, Christopher Kassam, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle II: IV. Our FatherJohn Tavener, The Holst Singers, The Temple Church Choir, Hugh Benson, Christopher Kassam, James Vivian, Ian Le Grice, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle II: V. Holy MaryJohn Tavener, The Holst Singers, The Temple Church Choir, Robert Millett, Hugh Benson, Christopher Kassam, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle II: VI. Alleluia, Theos ErastosJohn Tavener, The Holst Singers, The Temple Church Choir, Hugh Benson, Christopher Kassam, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle II: VII. Gospel of St JohnJohn Tavener, The Temple Church Choir, Thomas Guthrie, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle II: VIII. Thrice-Holy Hymn - ResurrectionJohn Tavener, The Holst Singers, The Temple Church Choir, Trebles of the Temple Church Choir, Robert Millett, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle II: IX. Beatitudes of St Isaac the SyrianJohn Tavener, Boys of the Temple Choir, The Holst Singers, The Temple Church Choir, Robert Millett, James Vivian, Ian Le Grice, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle III: I. Primordial CallJohn Tavener, The Temple Church Choir, Hugh Benson, Christopher Kassam, Robert Millett, Alex Mitchell, Yates Norton, Luca del Panta, John Thurgood, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle III: II. Psalm of CreationJohn Tavener, The Holst Singers, Hugh Benson, Christopher Kassam, Robert Millett, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle III: III. O Blessed Paradise, Pray for MeJohn Tavener, The Holst Singers, The Temple Church Choir, Simon Wall, Nathen Vale, Hugh Benson, Christopher Kassam, Robert Millett, James Vivian, Ian Le Grice, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle IV: I. Primordial CallJohn Tavener, The Holst Singers, The Temple Church Choir, Hugh Benson, Christopher Kassam, Robert Millett, Alex Mitchell, Yates Norton, Luca del Panta, John Thurgood, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle IV: II. Mystery of the Nothingness of GodJohn Tavener, The Holst Singers, The Temple Church Choir, Hugh Benson, Christopher Kassam, Robert Millett, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle V: I. Primordial CallJohn Tavener, The Temple Church Choir, Hugh Benson, Christopher Kassam, Robert Millett, Alex Mitchell, Yates Norton, Luca del Panta, John Thurgood, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle V: II. You Mantle Yourself in LightJohn Tavener, The Holst Singers, The Temple Church Choir, Patricia Rozario, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle V: III. Jesus PrayerJohn Tavener, The Holst Singers, The Temple Church Choir, James Vivian, Ian Le Grice, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle V: IV. The Lord's PrayerJohn Tavener, The Holst Singers, The Temple Church Choir, James Vivian, Ian Le Grice, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle VI: I. Primordial CallJohn Tavener, The Temple Church Choir, Hugh Benson, Christopher Kassam, Robert Millett, Alex Mitchell, Yates Norton, Luca del Panta, John Thurgood, James Vivian, Ian Le Grice, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle VI: II. What God is, we do not knowJohn Tavener, The Holst Singers, Hugh Benson, Christopher Kassam, Robert Millett, James Vivian, Ian Le Grice, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle VI: III. God of StrengthJohn Tavener, The Holst Singers, The Temple Church Choir, Hugh Benson, Christopher Kassam, Robert Millett, Alex Mitchell, Yates Norton, Luca del Panta, John Thurgood, James Vivian, Ian Le Grice, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle VI: IV. Kyrie Eleison - ChantJohn Tavener, The Holst Singers, The Temple Church Choir, Hugh Benson, Christopher Kassam, Robert Millett, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle VI: V. Te Re Rem – Ecstatic ChantJohn Tavener, The Holst Singers, The Temple Church Choir, Hugh Benson, Christopher Kassam, Robert Millett, James Vivian, Ian Le Grice, Alex Mitchell, Yates Norton, Luca del Panta, John Thurgood, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle VI: VI. Jesus Having Risen from the TombJohn Tavener, The Holst Singers, The Temple Church Choir, Hugh Benson, Christopher Kassam, Robert Millett, James Vivian, Ian Le Grice, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle VII: I. Apocalyptic Primordial CallJohn Tavener, Brass Ensemble of the English Chamber Orchestra, Hugh Benson, Christopher Kassam, Robert Millett, Alex Mitchell, Yates Norton, Luca del Panta, John Thurgood, James Vivian, Ian Le Grice, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle VII: II. Absolved in the MirrorJohn Tavener, Brass Ensemble of the English Chamber Orchestra, Patricia Rozario, James Vivian, Ian Le Grice, Dirk Campbell, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle VII: III. Jesus PrayerJohn Tavener, The Holst Singers, The Temple Church Choir, Hugh Benson, Christopher Kassam, Robert Millett, James Vivian, Ian Le Grice, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle VII: IV. Hesychast MeditationJohn Tavener, The Holst Singers, The Temple Church Choir, Hugh Benson, Christopher Kassam, Robert Millett, James Vivian, Ian Le Grice, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle VII: V. Mary TheotokosJohn Tavener, The Holst Singers, The Temple Church Choir, James Vivian, Ian Le Grice, Hugh Benson, Christopher Kassam, Robert Millett, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle VII: VI. Hail, Veil of the TempleJohn Tavener, The Holst Singers, The Temple Church Choir, James Vivian, Ian Le Grice, Hugh Benson, Christopher Kassam, Robert Millett, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle VII: VII. Mother of GodJohn Tavener, The Holst Singers, The Temple Church Choir, James Vivian, Ian Le Grice, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle VII: VIII. AlleluiaJohn Tavener, The Holst Singers, The Temple Church Choir, James Vivian, Ian Le Grice, Hugh Benson, Christopher Kassam, Robert Millett, Yates Norton, Luca del Panta, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle VII: IX. The Gospel of St JohnJohn Tavener, Brass Ensemble of the English Chamber Orchestra, Simon Wall, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle VIII: I. MaranathaJohn Tavener, The Holst Singers, The Temple Church Choir, Andrew Rupp, Adrian Peacock, James Vivian, Ian Le Grice, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle VIII: II. Awake Thou That SleepestJohn Tavener, The Temple Church Choir, Thomas Guthrie, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle VIII: III. Into BeautyJohn Tavener, Brass Ensemble of the English Chamber Orchestra, Patricia Rozario, James Vivian, Ian Le Grice, Dirk Campbell, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle VIII: IV. Rending of the Veil of the Temple: Maya AtmaJohn Tavener, The Holst Singers, The Temple Church Choir, Patricia Rozario, Hugh Benson, Christopher Kassam, Robert Millett, Alex Mitchell, Yates Norton, Luca del Panta, John Thurgood, James Vivian, Ian Le Grice, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle VIII: V. Knights Templar in the Temple ChurchJohn Tavener, The Holst Singers, The Temple Church Choir, Trebles of the Temple Church Choir, Jeremy Birchall, Hugh Benson, Christopher Kassam, Robert Millett, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle VIII: VI. Light of ChristJohn Tavener, The Holst Singers, The Temple Church Choir, Jeremy Birchall, James Vivian, Ian Le Grice, Hugh Benson, Christopher Kassam, Robert Millett, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle VIII: VII. Cosmic RisingJohn Tavener, The Holst Singers, The Temple Church Choir, Trebles of the Temple Church Choir, Jeremy Birchall, Thomas Guthrie, Andrew Rupp, James Vivian, Ian Le Grice, Hugh Benson, Christopher Kassam, Robert Millett, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle VIII: VIII. New Jerusalem - Upanishad HymnJohn Tavener, The Holst Singers, The Temple Church Choir, Brass Ensemble of the English Chamber Orchestra, Patricia Rozario, Hugh Benson, Christopher Kassam, Robert Millett, James Vivian, Ian Le Grice, Alex Mitchell, Yates Norton, Luca del Panta, Stephen Layton
The Veil of the Temple, Cycle VIII: IX. ShántihJohn Tavener, The Holst Singers, The Temple Church Choir, Patricia Rozario, Stephen Layton
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