''Mother and Child'' is a choral composition by John Tavener written in 2002 on a commission from the

Tenebrae Tenebrae (—Latin for "darkness") is a religious service of Western Christianity held during the three days preceding Easter Day, and characterized by gradual extinguishing of candles, and by a "strepitus" or "loud noise" taking place in total ...

vocal ensemble. The lyrics were written by

Brian Keeble Brian Keeble is a British author and editor. He is the founder of Golgonooza Press and a co-founder of the ''Temenos'' and Temenos Academy. Biography Keeble is the founder of Golgonooza Press where he worked as editor, designer and publisher ...

. The music is set for a choir in up to nine vocal parts,

organ Organ may refer to: Biology * Organ (biology), a part of an organism Musical instruments * Organ (music), a family of keyboard musical instruments characterized by sustained tone ** Electronic organ, an electronic keyboard instrument ** Hammond ...

and temple gong. The duration is about 10 minutes. The composition was first recorded by Tenebrae in 2003 on an album of the same name, conducted by Nigel Short. The work was published by

Chester Music Wise Music Group is a global music publisher, with headquarters in Berners Street, London. In February 2020, Wise Music Group changed its name from The Music Sales Group. In 2014 Wise Music Group (as The Music Sales Group) acquired French cla ...

in 2004.

History

John Tavener composed ''Mother and Child'' in 2002 on a commission from

. The lyrics were written by

in English, with interspersed Sanskrit. The composition was published by

in 2004.

Text and music

The poem by

celebrates motherhood, especially that of Mary to Jesus. It is a recurring theme in Tavener's compositions. It comes combined with the concept of infinite theophanic light, which occurs commonly in religious traditions. The text begins: "Enamoured by its gaze, the mother's gaze in turn contrives a single bearn of light! Along which love may move". The following

refrain A refrain (from Vulgar Latin ''refringere'', "to repeat", and later from Old French ''refraindre'') is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in poetry — the "chorus" of a song. Poetic fixed forms that feature refrains include the vi ...

, Hail Maria, alludes to

Hail Mary The Hail Mary ( la, Ave Maria) is a traditional Christian prayer addressing Mary, the mother of Jesus. The prayer is based on two biblical passages featured in the Gospel of Luke: the Angel Gabriel's visit to Mary (the Annunciation) and Mary's ...

, but continues "Hail Sophia" (or Holy Wisdom). At the climax, Tavener quotes the Sanskrit " atma". The music is set for a choir in four parts, at times subdivided ( SSAATTBBB),

and temple gong. It is marked "Ecstatic, flowing". It is written without bar lines. The music begins with the choir alone, divided first in four parts and moving in a dense texture in mostly homophony, with the tenor voice leading the melody, and the other parts moving in steady half notes. The music begins very softly (pp), growing steadily but very gradually and never louder than ''mezzo-piano'' (mp). The following refrain alludes to Russian Orthodox chant, with three upper voices (tenor and two sopranos) in parallel chords, and with the lower voices supporting at a slower pace. It pensively addresses Maria and Sophia, pp throughout, only the second acclamation of Maria grows to ''mezzo-forte'' over a melisma on her name. After several stanzas in growing intensity, the choir is joined at the climax by a forceful pipe organ that adds pulses to the singing, and strokes on a Hindu temple gong. The music then returns to another contemplative "Hail Maria ..." prayer.

Album

The composition became the centerpiece of a 2003 album of the same name by Tenebrae, conducted by Nigel Short, along with other contemporary sacred music.

References

External links

John Tavener, Tenebrae & Nigel Short - Mother and Child Lyrics
songlyrics.com {{italic title Compositions by John Tavener Choral compositions 2002 compositions