Preces and Responses

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composer

Sir John Tavener (1944-2013)

2013

author of text

Anonymous - liturgical

Introduction
English

Tavener’s contribution to the repertoire of preces and responses, written for unaccompanied double choir, complements early landmarks of the genre by Tallis and Tomkins and more recent examples by Kenneth Leighton and Gabriel Jackson. The opening section of his Preces and Responses rests on a reiterated bass note. Tavener weaves several gloriously unexpected chromatic passing notes and cadences into the music’s stately harmonic language; the recurrence of a sublime half cadence in The Lord’s Prayer, meanwhile, suggests eternal time. Prayers for the Queen and the ministers of the Church are capped by joyful choral responses, while the plea for peace in our time is answered with defiant strength by the two choirs singing identical music in close imitation. The final responses, a brief sequence of blessings offered in the presence of the Lord and the spiritual community, close with Tavener’s resounding thanks to God.

Recordings

Tavener: Missa Wellensis & other sacred music

Wells Cathedral Choir, Matthew Owens (conductor)

Studio Master: SIGCD442Download onlyStudio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available

Wells Cathedral Choir celebrates the life and works of the late British composer Sir John Tavener. The programme is centred around his 'Missa Wellensis' and includes several premiere recordings of works commissioned especially for the choir.» More

Tavener: No longer mourn for me & other works for cello

Steven Isserlis (cello)

Studio Master: CDA68246Studio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available

An important release which again demonstrates Steven Isserlis’s deep commitment to the music of John Tavener.» More

Details

Steven Isserlis (cello), Caroline Dearnley (cello), Chiara Enderle (cello), Matthew Huber (cello), Vashti Hunter (cello), Bartholomew LaFollette (cello), Amy Norrington (cello), David Waterman (cello)

Track 1 on CDA68246 [12'19]

Part 1: O Lord, open thou our lips

Wells Cathedral Choir, Matthew Owens (conductor), Iain MacLeod-Jones (tenor)

Track 7 on SIGCD442 [2'07] Download only

Part 2: The Lord be with you

Wells Cathedral Choir, Matthew Owens (conductor), Iain MacLeod-Jones (tenor)

Track 11 on SIGCD442 [9'39] Download only

Cantor: The Lord be with you
Choir: and with thy spirit.
Cantor: Let us pray.

Choir: Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.

Choir: Our Father,
which art in heaven.
Hallowed be thy name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.

Cantor: O Lord, show thy mercy upon us.
Choir: And grant us thy salvation.
Cantor: O Lord, save the Queen.
Choir: And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee.
Cantor: Endue thy ministers with righteousness.
Choir: And make thy chosen people joyful.
Cantor: O Lord, save thy people.
Choir: And bless thine inheritance.
Cantor: Give peace in our time, O Lord
Choir: because there is none other that fighteth for us,
but only thou, O God.
Cantor: O God, make clean our hearts within us.
Choir: And take not thy Holy Spirit from us.

Cantor: Everlasting God, our maker and redeemer,
grant us, with all the faithful departed,
the sure benefits of thy Son’s saving passion and
glorious resurrection that, in the last day,
when thou dost gather up all things in Christ,
we may with them enjoy the fullness of thy promises;
through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord,
who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Choir: Amen.

Priest: O God, from whom all holy desires,
all good counsels, and all just works do proceed:
Give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give;
that both our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments,
and also that by thee we being defended from the fear
of our enemies may pass our time in rest and quietness;
through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Choir: Amen.

Priest: Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord;
and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night;
for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Choir: Amen.

Part 3: Final Responses The Lord be with you

Wells Cathedral Choir, Matthew Owens (conductor), Iain MacLeod-Jones (tenor)

Track 15 on SIGCD442 [0'44] Download only

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