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CD/SACD Towards Silence Towards Silence was composed in 2007 and jointly Medici some years earlier, within a couple of days commissioned by The Music Mind Spirit Trust and I none the less found myself undertaking a For Four String Quartets and The Rubin Museum, New York. commission together with a World Premiere arranged for New York (The Rubin Museum) and Large Tibetan Temple Bowl Earlier that same year I was delighted to be invited a UK 1st performance programmed for ‘Art and to publicly interview Sir John both about his musical Mind’ in Winchester Cathedral! Sir John Tavener compositions and his spiritual influences. Working with an inspirational drive and energy During our quite extensive preparation we discovered John immediately set about composing the piece, a mutual interest in the possible relationships of only to collapse, very seriously ill just a few days near-death experience to Spirituality and Creativity. after its completion. Having set up the initial It was therefore entirely natural that I introduced performances and funding a few weeks later I 1 Towards Silence – For Four String Quartets and Large Tibetan Temple Bowl [33.45] him to my friend, eminent neuro-psychiatrist Dr. was also taken gravely ill and so also underwent I Vaishvanara (0.00) Peter Fenwick who is a leading authority on the the horrors of months in intensive care followed II Taijasa (4.59) subject. Our onstage dialogue took place following by an endlessly slow gradual recuperation. Both a particularly stimulating and thought-provoking still desperately weak we only managed to speak III Prajna (11.10) conversation between the three of us. again by phone about 6 months later and agreed, IV Tur ya (19.20) that if God spared us we would try and meet It is perhaps not then so surprising that towards at Winchester. the end of our wide ranging public conversation John suddenly announced his desire to compose Miraculously we did and the Church authorities a work about near-death experience. It was also with great compassion closed the cathedral so immediately clear to me that this represented that we could perform Towards Silence for John a long held aspiration, fully formed and utterly alone on the afternoon of the concert. Medici Quartet internally conceived. Finzi Quartet Professor Paul Robertson Cavaleri Quartet Whilst, quite truthfully, insisting that such a (founder leader of the Medici String Quartet and Fifth Quadrant project (for four quartets and temple bowl) sadly joint ceo of the Music Mind Spirit Trust) could not include me as I had ceased playing in the

www.signumrecords.com - 3 - a note from sir john tavener BIOGRAPHies

Towards Silence was inspired by reading René Musically I have tried to express these States of SIR JOHN TAVENER once again came firmly into the limelight, when Guéron’s book Man and his becoming according Atma by using four string quartets sounding unseen the Proms premiere of The Protecting Veil to the Vedanta. From an exoteric sense the work from high galleries, with a large Tibetan temple bowl John Tavener first came to public attention in introduced his music to a new audience. The opera may be seen as a meditation on the different sounding every nineteen beats (symbolising the 1968 with the premiere of his oratorio The Whale Mary of Egypt, premiered at the Aldeburgh Festival states of dying, but from an esoteric sense it is a nineteen mouths) in the first three States, and at the inaugural concert of the London Sinfonietta. in 1992. The same year, a major documentary, meditation on the four States of Atma: then pulsing ‘eternally’ in the last, unconditioned The Beatles subsequently recorded this on their ‘Glimpses of Paradise’ was broadcast on BBC2. State. I have used five revolving ideas which start Apple label. His 50th birthday year was marked in 1994 by I Vaishvanara: the Waking State, which has in the first State as the shortest, the most complex the BBC’s Ikons Festival, as well as another knowledge of external objects and which has and the most manifest. In the second, ‘Dream State’ Although Tavener’s avant-garde style of the major Proms commission - The Apocalypse. In nineteen mouths, and is the world of gross the length is increased mathematically and is twice seventies contrasts with the contemplative beauty 1997, the performance of Song for Athene at the manifestation. (Mandakya Upanishad 1.3) the length of the first State, as sound is less complex of his works for which he is best known, the seeds of close of Princess Diana’s funeral showed that and less manifest. The third State (Deep Sleep) is the language he would later adopt were in evidence the profound effect of his music reached far II Taijasa: the Dream State, which has knowledge a kind of ‘halo’ of still sound, and is mathematically from an early stage. Some of his first published beyond just the concert-going public. of inward objects, which has nineteen mouths, and three times the length of the first State. The final compositions, notably Thérèse (1973) commissioned whose domain is the world of subtle manifestation. State is the longest, the quietest and the most by the Royal Opera House and A Gentle Spirit The premiere of A New Beginning played out the (Mandakya Upanishad 1.4) full statement of the five revolving ideas, and it is (1977) after the short story by Dostoyevsky, showed final minutes of 1999 in London’s Millennium played muted, at the very threshold of audibility, that spirituality and mysticism were to be his Dome; on 4 January 2000, Fall and Resurrection III Prajna: the Condition of Deep Sleep. When the which finally leads to silence. primary sources of inspiration. was premiered at St Paul’s Cathedral, broadcast being who is asleep experiences no desire and on both television and radio; he received a is not the subject of any dream, he has become In a sense this is not music that should be heard His conversion to the Orthodox Church in 1977 Knighthood in the Millennium Honours List, and Atma, and is filled with Beatitude (ananda). as concert music, but rather meditated on as a resulted from his growing conviction that Eastern later the same year, London’s South Bank Centre form of ‘liquid’ metaphysics. I offer this musical traditions retained a primordial essence that the presented a major festival of his music. The IV Tur ya: That which is Beyond. The greatest State experiment as a kind of poor man’s mite, and west had lost. Works such as The Lamb (1982), and number of commissions from overseas increased, (Mahattara) is the fourth, totally free from any dedicate it to the memory of that great man, René the large-scale choral work Resurrection (1989) notably with Lamentations and Praises (2000) mode of existence whatever, with fullness of Peace Guénon, who died virtually unknown in Cairo in date from this period. It was in 1989 that Tavener for the San Francisco-based Chanticleer (whose and Beatitude without duality. 1951, and who brought my attention to the Vedanta.

- 4 - - 5 - recording of the work secured for Tavener the The Medici Quartet repertoire. It was Curzon who generously took it life & times through the imaginative conjunction Grammy award for Best Classical Contemporary upon himself to help these four young musicians of music and readings were initiated by Paul Composition in 2003) and Ikon of Eros (2001) for Drawing on more than 35 years of world class become something truly artistic. Robertson, ‘The Kingdom of the Spirit’: Beethoven the Minnesota Orchestra. musical performance The Medici Quartet is a through his Letters by John Caird and Michael leading international ensemble with an extensive In 1996 Channel 4 Television broadcast a Kennedy’s programme about Sir Edward and Lady In the first years of the new millennium, Tavener distinguished discography. three-part series entitled Music & the Mind, Elgar at Brinkwells entitled ‘Wood Magic’ have was led to look for inspiration from alternative performed by The Medici Quartet and presented been performed many hundreds of times. sources by his interest in the universalist During their long career they have regularly worked by their leader Paul Robertson; these programmes philosophy of the late Swiss metaphysician with a wide variety of leading composers and combined music and science to explore the power Although the Medici Quartet retired after its final Fritjhof Schuon, which embraces all great performers and created a recorded discography of music in human life, cognitive and emotional performance at the Harrogate International religious traditions. This change in direction is of more than 40 records which includes a highly development and health. Festival in 2007 the same core members have manifest in works written since 2001, such as the regarded Beethoven Quartets Cycle (on Nimbus since reformed, as the Medici Ensemble, in order epic all-night vigil The Veil of the Temple (2002) Records) the seldom heard Saint-Saëns Quartets Renowned for their dramatic programmes for string to explore a wider repertoire and share its which includes Sufi poetry as well as Christian, and many other creative collaborations with quartet and actors which revealed the intimate unique history with young professionals and Islamic and Hindu texts; The Beautiful Names saxophonist Barbara Thompson (Virgin Records), relationship between the composer’s work and his Executive Leaders. (2006) sets the 99 names for Allah from the Sarod player Wajahat Khan, Hymn by Alan Qu’ran; the Requiem (2007) also sets words from Bennet and George Fenton (BBC Records), George the Qu’ran and the Upanishads alongside those Martin Presents, The Mozart and Brahms clarinet of the Roman Catholic requiem mass; and the 5tets with Jack Brymer etc. Hindu inspired Lalishri (2006) for solo violin and strings, written for Nicola Benedetti. At the start of their career they were mentored by members of the Aeolian Quartet and shortly after their remarkably successful Wigmore hall debut (1974) were taken under the wing of the formidable manager Mrs. Emmy Tillet.

Shortly after they were signed up to an international recording contract with EMI and invited to play with the great English pianist, Sir Clifford Curzon with whom they learnt most of the piano quintet

- 6 - - 7 - Fifth Quadrant juxtapose the traditional Classical repertoire with Finzi Quartet today’s contemporary compositions. The Fifth Quadrant (5Q) music collective was Prize winners in the 2010 Royal Over Seas They have worked closely with Gunter Pichler created in 2009 by Simon Hewitt Jones (violinist), The group has appeared at many major festivals League Competition and the 2009 5th Trondheim of the Alban Berg Quartett in both Siena and Drew Balch (violist) and Daniel Swain (pianist), and concert series in the UK, USA and Europe, International String Quartet Competition in Madrid following generous funding from the and was immediately engaged as a string quartet including Spitalfields, Aldeburgh, Serenata, Norway, the Finzi Quartet was formed under the Albeniz Foundation. consisting of Simon Hewitt Jones (Violin), Toby Cheltenham, and Swaledale, as well as on BBC guidance of Dr Christopher Rowland at the Royal Tramaseur (Violin), Drew Balch (Viola) and radio and television. Members of 5Q performed Northern College of Music. The Quartet has given As selected Young Artists the Quartet has Jonathan Bloxham (Cello) by Paul Robertson together on the 2010 recording ‘Imogen Holst: recitals and made numerous festival appearances benefited from the support of the Tillett Trust, of the Medici Quartet, to take part in the String Chamber Music’, which won a BBC Music at major venues throughout the UK, including Park Lane Group and the Tunnell Trust. In 2010 premiere of Towards Silence. Since then, 5Q has Magazine award in 2010. The group has a Wigmore Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room the Swiss Global Artistic Foundation awarded embarked on an ambitious program to explore longstanding commitment to music education and St Martin-in-the-Fields, and has performed the Finzi Quartet use of ‘The Evangelists’, a and help redefine the ‘Classical’ tradition of projects in the Occupied Palestinian territories, and on BBC Radio 3. unique matched set of instruments by the collaborative music-making, working with artists travels frequently to the region to perform concert maker Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume, dated 1863. from inside and outside the world of music to tours, education workshops and masterclasses.

- 8 - - 9 - Cavaleri Quartet regular chamber music evenings with friends and guest performers. Formerly known as the Harpham Quartet, the Cavaleri Quartet were selected as Park Lane Group Notable performances of contemporary works Young Artists for 2008 and continue to perform include the chamber music of Mark Anthony in major venues and festivals throughout the UK Turnage for the 2008 BBC Proms ‘Composer and abroad. Most recent performance highlights Portraits’ series and the UK premiere of Sir John include appearances at the Royal Festival Hall, Tavener’s Towards Silence, in collaboration with the Purcell Room, Rachmaninov Hall, Moscow and the Medici Quartet, both of which were broadcast the Cadogan Hall, as RCM ‘Rising Stars’ for 2008. on BBC Radio 3. They returned to the Southbank They have recently been appointed as Leverhulme in October 2009 for a performance of Maxwell Junior Fellows in Chamber Music at the Royal Davies’ Quartet No. 4 for the festival celebrating College of Music for 2010/11 and have been ‘Max at 70’ at the Purcell Room. Their performance awarded a scholarship to study with Guenter of Lachenmann’s Quartet Grido at the RCM Pichler of the Alban Berg Quartet at the ‘Transcendant’ Festival received critical acclaim. Instituto Internacional de Musica de Camara, Madrid. They were finalists in 2010 Royal Overseas The quartet’s training took place at the RCM League Competition. where they were awarded the Helen Just and Louisa GoldEn Susan Connell prize for chamber music. The Tibetan singing Bowl Festival appearances include the Harrogate quartet has received coaching from members International Festival, Mostly Mozart at the of the Alban Berg, Brodsky, Chilingirian, Endellion, Louisa Golden is a Music Scholar at Cranleigh Barbican, King’s Lynn, Stratford-on-Avon and Maggini and Medici Quartets and performed School and first heard and played the Tibetan Chichester Festivities. The Quartet enjoys an in masterclasses with Gábor Takács-Nagy and Singing Bowl when she was only seven years old. ongoing collaboration with the clarinettist Emma members of the Amadeus, Arditti, Keller and She studies cello and has twice been the recipient Johnson MBE after first appearing with her in Vermeer Quartets. of the Junior Strings prize. the Honiton Festival, 2008. They are also the resident ensemble onboard the ‘Lady Rose’, We thank Adrian Incledon-Webber for the generous moored in Kingston-upon-Thames, where it hosts loan of his very fine antique Tibetan ‘singing bowl’.

- 10 - - 11 - Professor Paul Robertson THE MUSIC MIND SPIRIT TRUST

Paul Robertson was founder and for more than The Trust uses Music to understand complex 38 years, leader of the Medici String Quartet. social relationships and to connect people of Together with his wife, Dr. Chika Robertson, he different communities, ages and cultures. It is now Joint Chief Executive of the Music Mind focuses on music as a key to empower Spirit Trust. individuals and unlocking creativity through a variety of uniquely designed, research-based An eminent international lecturer, performer initiatives, drawing from its high level musical, and broadcaster, some 30 years ago Paul began medical and scientific knowledge and experience. pioneering work into the relationship between musical experience and brain function about The Music Mind Spirit Trust is dedicated to which he often speaks and broadcasts. He is ‘enriching lives through music’ and set in 7 acres of Visiting Professor in Music and Medicine to idyllic rolling West Sussex countryside, surrounded the Peninsula Medical School and an Associate by unspoilt woods and fields. The historic Old Fellow of Green, Templeton College, Oxford Farmhouse is a fine example of an early 16th and Visiting Professor to the Bled School of century ‘hall house’ and the ancient timbered Management, Slovenia. concert barn also faces out into landscaped Professor Paul Robertson with Sir John Tavener gardens, now open to the public as part of the Just over 2 years ago Paul underwent very prestigious charitable Open Gardens Scheme. extensive emergency surgery, following which he spent some weeks in a coma and many With Sir John kindly acting as Patron, The Music further months paralysed. Following this Mind Spirit Trust is now developing Towards life-changing experience he currently devotes Silence as a means of developing spiritual and much of his energy to deepening an creative insight. understanding of Spirituality through music. For more information about Professor Paul Robertson Profits from the sale of this recording are being donated to support the work of the or The Music Mind Spirit Trust we invite you to visit Music Mind Spirit Trust - enriching lives through music. our website: www.musicmindspirit.org

- 12 - - 13 - Artwork Design: ‘A contemporary western Mandala. Three circulations of colour unfolding from the unknowable centre of light, source of all.’ © Gerald Beckwith

Acknowledgements: The Music Mind Spirit Trust would like to express their warm thanks to The Study Society for their generous support in making the preparation of the first UK performance possible. The final dress rehearsal of ‘Towards Silence’ was held in their large studio at Colet House to an appreciative invited audience. The Study Society has a close familiarity with the different states of consciousness and the value of silence from its long tradition of studying the teaching of the Fourth Way and the Advaita teaching of HH Shantanand Saraswati (www.studysociety.org)

This recording has been made possible through the immense generosity of Geoff and Fiona Squire.

The Music Mind Spirit Trust would also like to acknowledge with warm thanks the support of Mr. Lewis Golden in making this project possible.

Producer - Mike Ponder Engineer - Mike Cox Assistant - Alex Foster

Cover Image - Gerald Beckwith Design and Artwork - Woven Design www.wovendesign.co.uk

Any unauthorised broadcasting, public performance, copying or re-recording of Signum Compact Discs constitutes an infringement of copyright and will render the infringer liable to an action by law. If you are listening to this recording in ‘surround sound’ you will notice that the four quartets are all around you. Licences for public performances or broadcasting may be obtained from Phonographic Performance Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this booklet may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted Over the course of many performances it became increasingly clear that the ideal audience position was sitting centrally in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission from Signum Records Ltd. within the 4 groups so that the listener is immersed within the music. We hope this is what you experience when SignumClassics, Signum Records Ltd., Suite 14, 21 Wadsworth Road, Perivale, Middx UB6 7JD, UK. listening in a ‘Quad’ format. +44 (0) 20 8997 4000 E-mail: [email protected]

www.signumrecords.com

-14 - - 15 - ALSO AVAILABLE on signumclassics

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SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD221

Towards Silence For Four String Quartets and Large Tibetan Temple Bowl

Sir John Tavener Tavener Silence Towards

1 Towards Silence – For Four String Quartets and Large Tibetan Temple Bowl [33.45] I Vaishvanara (0.00) II Taijasa (4.59) III Prajna (11.10) IV Tur ya (19.20) Towards Silence Tavener Medici Quartet Finzi Quartet Cavaleri Quartet This disc can be played on any standard CD or SACD player. In addition there is a surround Fifth Quadrant sound mix on the SACD layer.

LC15723

Signum Records Ltd, Suite 14, 21 Wadsworth Road, SIGCD221

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