Tavener and Postmodern Orthodoxy Listening Guide

Questions and Answers

Characteristic of Tavener's choral works is the presence of - (continuous pitches held while other musical lines interweave) and harmonies based on Greek Orthodox - that avoid the progressions of major or minor harmony and create an almost static effect.

drones, modes

John Tavener's sacred music draws not just on - Orthodox chant but also on the patterns of - that Orthodox ritual implies, aiming towards a mystical effect of timelessness.

Greek, repetition

John Tavener is an English composer.

True

What are the prominent languages used in the Eastern Christian church?

Greek, Russian Signup and view all the answers

What are the performing forces of Tavener's A Hymn to the Mother of God?

Two choirs Signup and view all the answers

Contemporary composers no longer write music for their religious communities.

False Signup and view all the answers

Byzantine and Greek scales and modes differ from Western scales and modes in that Byzantine and Greek scales and modes include:

microtones Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes John Tavener's work The Veil of the Temple?

It is written for several orchestras Signup and view all the answers

Tavener's A Hymn to the Mother of God is highly melismatic.

False Signup and view all the answers

Which spiritual tradition was John Tavener raised in?

Presbyterian Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following composers have contributed to the spiritual minimalist movement?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What was the language used in the Western church until the mid-1960s?

Latin Signup and view all the answers

Which of John Tavener's works was heard at the funeral service for Princess Diana?

Song for Athene Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following influences are heard in the music of Arvo Pärt?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

The performing forces of Tavener's A Hymn to the Mother of God are twelve voices in two _____________.

choirs Signup and view all the answers

Tavener was a prominent exponent of serialism.

False Signup and view all the answers

The Greek Orthodox tradition has roots in Jewish practice.

True Signup and view all the answers

Intervals smaller than half steps are called _____________.

microtones Signup and view all the answers

The text setting of Tavener's A Hymn to the Mother of God is _____________.

syllabic Signup and view all the answers

Which best describes the preforming forces of A Hymn to the Mother of God?

Two choirs Signup and view all the answers

Which describes the rhythm of A Hymn to the Mother of God?

Moving freely Signup and view all the answers

Which describes the harmony of Section A in A Hymn to the Mother of God?

Both A and B Signup and view all the answers

The volume of the B section in A Hymn to the Mother of God is?

Soft throughout Signup and view all the answers

Which describes the form of Tavener's A Hymn to the Mother of God?

A-B-A Signup and view all the answers

Which best describes the performing forces for A Hymn to the Mother of God?

Two SAATBB choirs Signup and view all the answers

Which describes the text setting of A Hymn to the Mother of God?

Syllabic Signup and view all the answers

Drag and drop the appropriate words to describe Tavener's A Hymn to the Mother of God.A hymn to the mother of god is performed by _ SAATBB choirs; each choir sings in a __ range with clear text setting the second choir sings in _ with the first creating a texture.The piece is in __ form.

Two, narrow, syllabic, canon, polyphonic, ABA Signup and view all the answers

What do the voices sing in the opening of A Hymn to the Mother of God?

The first choir begins alone but is quickly joined by the second choir singing in canon. Signup and view all the answers

Which describes the relationship between the two choirs in the A section of A Hymn to the Mother of God?

The second choir sings the same music as the first but begins a bit later Signup and view all the answers

Which descriptions are correct about the harmony of section A in A Hymn to the Mother of God?

Both A and B Signup and view all the answers

The volume of the B section in A Hymn to the Mother of God is?

Soft throughout Signup and view all the answers

Which best describes the form of Tavener's A Hymn to the Mother of God?

ABA Signup and view all the answers

Which correctly describe the melody of A Hymn to the Mother of God?

Stepwise motion Signup and view all the answers

Which describes the texture sung by the first choir at the beginning of A Hymn to the Mother of God?

Homorhythmic Signup and view all the answers

A Hymn to the Mother of God is performed by two SAATBB choirs each choir sings in a ____ range with clear text setting the second choir sings in _ with the first creating a texture. The piece is in __ form.

Narrow, syllabic, canon, polyphonic, ABA Signup and view all the answers

The Greek Orthodox chant tradition has roots in Jewish practice.

True Signup and view all the answers

Which describes the meter of A Hymn to the Mother of God?

Unmetered Signup and view all the answers

Which describes the performance forces for A Hymn to the Mother of God?

Two choirs Signup and view all the answers

What do the voices sing in the opening of A Hymn to the Mother of God?

The first choir begins alone but is quickly joined by the second choir singing in canon. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Tavener's Choral Works

Characterized by the use of drones and harmonies based on Greek Orthodox modes, leading to a static musical effect.
Emphasizes the qualities of timelessness through patterns of repetition in sacred music.

John Tavener's Background

English composer known for sacred music influenced by traditional Orthodox chant.
Raised in the Presbyterian spiritual tradition, with early training as a piano prodigy and church organist.
Studied music at the Royal Academy in London.

Eastern Christian and Western Church Practices

Prominent languages in the Eastern Christian church include Greek and Russian.
The Latin language was standard in the Western church until the mid-1960s.
Byzantine and Greek scales incorporate microtones, distinguishing them from Western scales.

A Hymn to the Mother of God

Features a syllabic text setting, where one melodic note corresponds to each syllable.
Performed by two SAATBB choirs, employing narrow vocal ranges and creating a polyphonic texture.
The form is structured as ABA, with the first section returning after a contrasting B section.
The melody consists of stepwise motion with small pitch intervals.

Notable Works and Performances

Song for Athene was played at Princess Diana's funeral.
The Veil of the Temple is a monumental work for multiple orchestras and four choirs, lasting over seven hours.

Influences and Movements

Tavener, along with Arvo Pärt and Henryk Górecki, is a key figure in the spiritual minimalist movement that emphasizes nonpulsed music inspired by religious themes.
The music of Arvo Pärt draws from Gregorian chant, Russian Orthodox, and Eastern European folk traditions.

Musical Features

Rhythm is characterized by a free, unmetered quality, lacking a strong sense of pulse.
A Hymn to the Mother of God begins with the first choir singing alone, soon joined in canon by the second choir, creating a unique interplay.
Harmony in the A section often resolves into an F major triad, utilizing parallel triads.

Comparative Elements

Tavener's works reflect influences from the Middle Ages and Renaissance, reminiscent of polyphonic music celebrating religious themes.
Contemporary composers continue to create music that expresses their spirituality, countering the notion that such efforts have ceased.

Key Terminology

Microtones: Intervals smaller than a half step, critical to Byzantine and Greek music.
Syllabic: A type of text setting where each syllable is matched with one note.
Homorhythmic: Texture where all voices sing in the same rhythm.

These notes encapsulate essential points regarding John Tavener's contributions to music, particularly his sacred works and their cultural influences.

Studying That Suits You

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Description

Explore the distinctive characteristics of John Tavener's choral works in this quiz, focusing on continuous pitches and Greek Orthodox harmonies. Delve into his sacred music and its unique soundscape through engaging flashcards.

Tavener and Postmodern Orthodoxy Listening Guide

Questions and Answers

Characteristic of Tavener's choral works is the presence of - (continuous pitches held while other musical lines interweave) and harmonies based on Greek Orthodox - that avoid the progressions of major or minor harmony and create an almost static effect.

John Tavener's sacred music draws not just on - Orthodox chant but also on the patterns of - that Orthodox ritual implies, aiming towards a mystical effect of timelessness.

John Tavener is an English composer.

What are the prominent languages used in the Eastern Christian church?

What are the performing forces of Tavener's A Hymn to the Mother of God?

Contemporary composers no longer write music for their religious communities.

Byzantine and Greek scales and modes differ from Western scales and modes in that Byzantine and Greek scales and modes include:

Which of the following describes John Tavener's work The Veil of the Temple?

Tavener's A Hymn to the Mother of God is highly melismatic.

Which spiritual tradition was John Tavener raised in?

Which of the following composers have contributed to the spiritual minimalist movement?

What was the language used in the Western church until the mid-1960s?

Which of John Tavener's works was heard at the funeral service for Princess Diana?

Which of the following influences are heard in the music of Arvo Pärt?

The performing forces of Tavener's A Hymn to the Mother of God are twelve voices in two _____________.

Tavener was a prominent exponent of serialism.

The Greek Orthodox tradition has roots in Jewish practice.

Intervals smaller than half steps are called _____________.

The text setting of Tavener's A Hymn to the Mother of God is _____________.

Which best describes the preforming forces of A Hymn to the Mother of God?

Which describes the rhythm of A Hymn to the Mother of God?

Which describes the harmony of Section A in A Hymn to the Mother of God?

The volume of the B section in A Hymn to the Mother of God is?

Which describes the form of Tavener's A Hymn to the Mother of God?

Which best describes the performing forces for A Hymn to the Mother of God?

Which describes the text setting of A Hymn to the Mother of God?

What do the voices sing in the opening of A Hymn to the Mother of God?

Which describes the relationship between the two choirs in the A section of A Hymn to the Mother of God?

Which descriptions are correct about the harmony of section A in A Hymn to the Mother of God?

The volume of the B section in A Hymn to the Mother of God is?

Which best describes the form of Tavener's A Hymn to the Mother of God?

Which correctly describe the melody of A Hymn to the Mother of God?

Which describes the texture sung by the first choir at the beginning of A Hymn to the Mother of God?

A Hymn to the Mother of God is performed by two SAATBB choirs each choir sings in a ______ range with clear ____ text setting the second choir sings in _____ with the first creating a ____ texture. The piece is in ____ form.

The Greek Orthodox chant tradition has roots in Jewish practice.

Which describes the meter of A Hymn to the Mother of God?

Which describes the performance forces for A Hymn to the Mother of God?

What do the voices sing in the opening of A Hymn to the Mother of God?

Study Notes

Tavener's Choral Works

John Tavener's Background

Eastern Christian and Western Church Practices

A Hymn to the Mother of God

Notable Works and Performances

Influences and Movements

Musical Features

Comparative Elements

Key Terminology

Studying That Suits You

Description

A Hymn to the Mother of God is performed by two SAATBB choirs each choir sings in a ____ range with clear text setting the second choir sings in _ with the first creating a texture. The piece is in __ form.