Sir John Tavener: Towards Silence – Medici Quartet, Finzi Quartet, Cavaleri Quartet, Fifth Quadrant
This premiere recording of Sir John Tavener's Towards Silence, written for four string quartets and a large Tibetan bowl, explores the nature of consciousness and the process of dying. Tavener had long wanted to write the work and persuaded Professor Paul Robertson, leader of the Medici Quartet and Co-founder of the Music Mind Spirit Trust, to perform it. However, shortly after the manuscript was completed both men became critically ill and were themselves close to death.
By August 2008 Robertson had recovered sufficiently to resuscitate the project, which had now taken on a profound significance for himself and for Tavener. The members of the Medici Quartet immediately agreed to reform and identified young professional string quartets with whom to perform, acting as musical mentors.
Tavener’s vision was for all four quartets to be positioned high up in the cathedral dome, invisible to the audience, and arranged in the shape of a cross, bringing the Christian, Buddhist, and Hindu religions together. The sense of space has been captured in this magnificent SA-CD recording.
"...the music operates on many different levels and can be heard and understood in many different ways. It is enormously powerful, by turns lush and spare, with a simultaneous send of the ritual and the sensual. tavener has always been a profoundly inspired melodist, and there are joyous moments in this work whe that gift comes into play by emerging slowly from, and sinking back into, shining , seemingly endless chordal writing of richness. A glimpse of eternity."
Ivan Moody
Performance **** Recording ******
Terry Blain
