Ikons: Meditations in Words and Music/Book and Disk

by John Tavener, Mother Thekla

This is a resource for personal meditation and devotion. It consists of a book with ten sections written by Mother Thekla, on themes of holiness, light, prayer, psalms, ikons, the mother of God, prophets, the mind, Holy week and gospel thoughts. There is an introduction by John Tavener, and a commentary on the attached CD by Professor Richard Steinitz, an expert on Tavener's works. Attached to the book is a CD which features extracts from some of Tavener's recordings. These have been personally selected by the composer and link in with the themes of the different sections of the book.

Paperback

Published January 1, 1995

About the author

Sir John Kenneth Tavener was an English composer, noted for his religious choral works. He first came to public attention with the performance of his Cantata The Whale which was subsequently recorded and released on the Beatles’ Apple Label. His output includes orchestral and chamber works, choral and vocal pieces and operas.

From the late 1970s his works were influenced by the mysticism and liturgical traditions of Orthodox Christianity, following his conversion the the Russian Orthodox Church in 1977.

Among his best known works are The Lamb (1982), The Protecting Veil (1988) and Song for Athene (1993), the latter piece was played at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales.