Reviewed by John Irvine

For some time now there has been a concern voiced by many critics of Tavener's works that he has had nothing new to offer as a composer and that he has resorted to recycling Greek Orthodox Church music. It is though Tavener as the composer has diminished or slunk into the background and has left the tradition of his adopted Church to take centre stage. Be that as it may, this new release should put paid to such rumours. These are first recordings of two very different works written nearly 10 years apart. 'Eis Thanaton (Ode To Death)' is a setting of a Greek poem on the same name by Andreas Kalvos which deals with the grief felt by a man on the death of his mother. Tavener set the poem in 1985 shortly after the death of his own mother which affected him so profoundly that he gave up writing music for some time. 'Eis Thanaton' was a way of working through his sorrow and Tavener describes it as an "icon of sorrow" allowing us to see death as "part of the whole divine plan, not as an isolated cruel imposition." As one might expect from the above, the music is powerfully stirring and dramatic, quite unlike what one has been led to expect from the foremost composer of the group of 'Holy Minimalists'. The listener is led from darkness to light; from despair in the face of death and loss to hope in the coming resurrection. 'Theophany', completed in 1993, again is very different from Tavener's normal output being a 30 minute work for pre-recorded tape, orchestra and two solo singers - in that order of appearance. The piece was inspired by Psalm 104 where God's creative and sustaining power is praised: here the orchestra and soloists provide the details, the animation, the activity of God's creation, while the tape of multi-tracked voices intoning "Ego eimi" ("I am") represents the uncreated and boundless energies of God. Prepare to have your ears blasted off by certain of the brass and percussion sections - this is powerful stuff. A stunning new release, definitely one to treasure.