Sir James remembers the life of John Tavener, a fellow British composer in which Orthodox liturgy features prominently in his repertoire. Tavener’s The Lamb is consistent with the ‘holy minimalist’ style in which he and other composers like Arvo Pärt and Henryk Górecki have been associated. In appreciating Tavener’s musical taste for the transcendent, a symbol of heaven, MacMillan also reflects how his own aesthetic style differs by emphasizing musical conflict, or theologically speaking, how it is through the cross that God leads us to heaven.
Performed by: Voces8
