John Tavener

Lament for Jerusalem

The Vocal score for John Tavener's beautiful work Lament For Jerusalem, arranged for Soprano, Countertenor and SATB Chorus with an Organ Accompaniment. This score can be used for both the 'Original' and 'Jerusalem' versions of the work. The composition was commissioned by Father Arthur E. Bridge OAM for Ars Musica Australis and was first written in 2002. The 'Jerusalem' version was arranged for the Choir of London in 2004. Tavener himself calls the work 'a mystical love-song' that reflects the 'mystical, sacred and sublime nature of the texts'. Lament For Jerusalem is divided into seven stanzas, each of which contain Christic, Judaic and Islamic inspirations, making this work truly innovative and interesting. The piece is around 45 minutes long, and it is recommended to be performed in a space in which there are generous acoustics that will allow each individual voice as well as the collective whole to 'breathe' and dissolve into the air. The work is a wonderful one, receiving great critical acclaim upon its premiere and impressing audiences the world over for its soaring Soprano melodies and its left-field Middle-Eastern harmonies. The composition is one in a long line of Tavener pieces that immediately silences audiences and captivates their attention throughout. Any performance of Lament For Jerusalem is guaranteed to be a special event and one that audiences will remember for a long time.