John Tavener: Schuon Hymnen; The Second Coming; Exhortations and Kohima; Shûnya [Import]

John Tavener (Composer, Conductor), Stephen Layton (Conductor, Performer), Christopher Bowers-Broadbent (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Stephen Layton, Christopher Bowers-Broadbent
• Conductor: John Tavener, Stephen Layton
• Composer: John Tavener
• Audio CD (October 12, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Hyperion UK
• ASIN: B0002VSS60
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #215,986 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Birthday Sleep

2. I. Butterfly Dreams Based On Chuang Tse

3. II. Haiku By Kokku

4. III. Haiku By Buson

5. IV. Haiku By Issa

6. V. Haiku, Anon

7. VI. The Butterfly By Pavel Friedmann

8. VII. Butterfly Song From Acoman Indian

9. VIII. Butterfly Dreams Based On Chuang Tse

10. The Second Coming

11. Schuon Hymnen

12. As One Who Has Slept

13. The Bridal Chamber

14. Exhortation And Kohima

15. Shunya

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars mystical music beautifully sung, November 16, 2009

By 

Aquinas "summa" (celestial heights, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: John Tavener: Schuon Hymnen; The Second Coming; Exhortations and Kohima; Shûnya (Audio CD)

This particular CD receives the top accolade from the Gramophone guide and after a single listening one can see why. Stephen Layton and Polyphony are simply wonderful. I was particularly taken by "Birthday Sleep", "Butterfly dreams" and "As one who sleeps" (a simple and beautiful celebration of the resurrection) but was less taken by the Schuon Hymen and Shunya which I felt in both cases went on too long - I know Shunya is kind of meant to be mantra like but nearly 18 minutes was too much. Anyway, this is a minor quibble - the music has all the mystical and ethereal qualities one expects from Tavener and then we have the gorgeous singing. An absolute music for Tavener fans.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This music is simply mesmerizing!, September 11, 2008

By 

Pete "Pete" (North America) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: John Tavener: Schuon Hymnen; The Second Coming; Exhortations and Kohima; Shûnya (Audio CD)

This music is simply mesmerizing! I have been listening to this compact disc constantly on my daily commute to and from work. I'm normally one who changes the CD a lot, but this music just hold me, but in such a calming and soothing, and yet somehow moving way. Tavener is one of the greatest living composers of sacred music. He has so many great works. These are actually some of the lesser known of his material but they are beautiful pieces and well worth checking out.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yes, Angels made this., July 25, 2007

By 

C. Tunney "starchar" (PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: John Tavener: Schuon Hymnen; The Second Coming; Exhortations and Kohima; Shûnya (Audio CD)

I always knew it should be possible and John Tavener has done it. Human voices put into harmonies of unparalleled beauty. If you enjoy chant or choral music or trance or new age, buy this and make your ears happy.