The Veil of the Temple

The Veil of the Temple is a piece of choral music by British composer Sir John Tavener. Identified by Tavener as "the supreme achievement of my life",[1][2] it is set for four choirs, several orchestras and soloists and lasts at least seven hours.[3] It is based on text from a number of religions. It was commissioned by the Temple Church, in London,[4] and received its world premiere performance there in June 2003.[5]

Notable performances

After its premiere, The Veil of the Temple was not performed in the UK in its entirety for another 22 years. It was performed at Usher Hall to open the 2025 Edinburgh International Festival, conducted by Sofi Jeannin and sung by the Edinburgh Festival Chorus, the Monteverdi Choir and the National Youth Choir of Scotland.[6]

The US premiere took place on 24 July 2004 at Avery Fisher Hall, conducted by Stephen Layton.[7]

The work was premiered in Germany in 2007 by the Rundfunkchor Berlin, conducted by Simon Halsey.[8]

Tavener also published a concert version, about two and a half hours long, which had its world premiere at the BBC Proms on 1 August 2004.[9]

Structure

The piece is split into eight cycles. The first seven follow the same structure, with each cycle being a higher key than the previous.[5] For example, Cycles I to VII open with a soprano solo.[10] This is then followed by a setting of the kyrie in either English or the original Greek. Successive cycles add additional musical complexity and words to each movement, with the result that cycle I takes about 20 minutes to perform, but cycle VII takes 1.5 hours.[11]

Cycles I to VII use the following structure:[10]

Title Section Sung by Notes
Mystical Love Song of the Sufis Solo soprano
Primordial Call Orchestra
God's Creation Kyrie 1 Choir
Tohu, Vohu, Tahem. Logos Choir, with soloists
In the beginning Solo bass
Kyrie 2 Choir
You mantle yourself in light. Choir
Kyrie 3 Choir
Outside the Gates of Paradise O Blessed Paradise Choir, with soloists
Kyrie 4 Choir
What God is. Choir
Kyrie 5 Choir
Our Father Lords Prayer Choir
Kyrie 6 Choir
Holy Mary O Mary Theotokos. Choir
Hail, O Mother of God! Choir
Here I stand now praying. Choir
In thee rejoiceth. Choir Cycles V to VII only
Awed by the beauty Choir Cycles V to VII only
Alleelouia 1 Choir Cycles V to VII only
Kyrie 7 Choir
Alleluia. Theos Erastos Alleelouia 2 Choir
Kyrie 8 Basses
Kyrie 9 Choir
Gospel of St John Gospel of John Solo Bass
Alleelouia 3 Choir
Thrice-Holy Hymn - Resurrection Te re rem. Choir Not cycle VII
Agios ischyros. Choir Not cycle VII
Have mercy on me, O God. Choir Not cycle VII
Agios Athanatos 1 Choir Not cycle VII
In Thy kingdom remember us, O Lord. Choir Not cycle VII
Beatitudes of St. Isaac the Syrian The Beatitudes single voice part Not cycle VII
Ágiós Athánatos 2 Choir Not cycle VII
Christos anestee Choir Not cycle VII
Psalm Solo Bass Not cycle VII

References

  1. ^ Tavener, John. "The Veil of the Temple". Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  2. ^ Anastasia Tsioulcas (12 November 2013). "Remembering 'Holy Minimalist' Composer John Tavener". NPR Music. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  3. ^ Michael White, "A Time for Reflection", BBC Music Magazine, Vol. 22 No. 2 (December 2013): p. 29.
  4. ^ "About us". Temple Music. Temple Music Foundation. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  5. ^ a b Layton, Stephen. "Sir John Tavener (1944 – 2013)". Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  6. ^ Wilson, Flora (18 July 2025). "Eight hours, 250 singers… and as many bananas as it takes: Tavener's Veil of the Temple". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  7. ^ Tommasini, Anthony (26 July 2004). "A Nocturnal Vigil to Please the Ear, Stir the Soul and Test the Endurance". New York Times. Archived from the original on 28 May 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  8. ^ "Project: The Veil of the Temple". Rundfunkchor Berlin. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  9. ^ "Prom 23 (2004)". BBC.com. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  10. ^ a b "The Veil of the Temple" (PDF). CD notes. Chester Music. 2003. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  11. ^ "The Veil of the Temple" (PDF). CD notes. Signum Records Ltd. 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2016.


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