Search - J. Tavener :: Ikon of Light/Funeral Ikos/

Tavener: Ancient and Modern in one package

06/14/1999

(3 out of 5 stars)

"At the outset, I can't say this is my favourite disc (of admittedly my favourite composer), but that opinion stems mostly from the fact that half the time I try to play it, my machine kicks in with the words "NO DISC!" When I can get it to play, I never listen to it all at once. I find that "Funeral Ikos" and "The Lamb" go very well together in one hearing, whereas "Ikon of Light" stands alone and I need a different set of ears on... "Ikon of Light" is one of the purest examples of Tavener's mystical qualities- as Peter Phillips explains in the notes, the composer is trying to express what cannot be expressed in music. Hence, for such sections as "Phos" (both versions) and "Epiphania", you will need to steel yourself for "radiant" harmonies that cloy rather than attract (when I listen to "Epiphania" in particular, I think to myself, 'is this the Light of the Holy Spirit, or was Tavener writing this staring into a lighthouse bulb on full beam?'). The two "Trisagions" are sung at very high volume and also have the potential to split eardrums. The other sections ("Dhoxa" and "Mystic Prayer") are by far the best sections of the work, the "Mystic Prayer" almost being a complete work in itself. Listening to it makes me think of those beautiful, just-out-of-reach Orthodox Monasteries in Greece where the atmosphere is shaded and cool. It has to be said that the four basses of the Tallis Scholars really do this movement justice. "Funeral Ikos" is one of Tavener's simplest creations and never fails to have an effect on me. Like "Funeral Canticle", this is a moving display of unaccompanied homophony that is sung with real tenderness by the choir. My only complaint is the length- really, the piece is a hymn, and hymns do tend to chafe when they become long. If I had this work performed at my funeral, I would just have the first three verses performed and leave it at that. Finally, the recording of "The Lamb" is not perfect because the choir goes out of tune slightly towards the end, but that is insignificant compared to the sheer thrill of knowing that Tavener himself is directing the piece- it is thus the most sincere-sounding version I have ever heard. All in all, it's interesting stuff, and the Tallis Scholars really deserve the highest praise for stepping away from their usual repertoire and doing well at something completely modern."

Luminous

01/10/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am not much of a Tavener fan. His mystical minimalism usually just strikes me as boring. But the major work on this recording, Ikon of Light, while having the usual Taverneresque austerity, is also one of the most beautiful and striking choral works of the 20th century. The Sixteen has also recorded this work (I haven't heard their version) but I doubt any group will perform this better than the Tallis Scholars do here."