Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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.

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.