St Paul's Cathedral Choir to pay tribute to Sir John Tavener

Often performed as a Christmas carol, The Lamb is a setting of a poem by William Blake, a simple, unaccompanied work for four voices, written in 1982.

Sir John Tavener's works included many religious pieces, three of which were written for St Paul's Cathedral.
 

• Three Antiphons - with text taken from the psalms and Isaiah, first performed on 7 May 1995 on the occasion of the Service of Thanksgiving, Reconciliation and Hope to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of the war in Europe.
• Hymn for the Sovereign - for the Imperial Society of the Knights Bachelor service in 2008.
• Fall and Resurrection - premièred on 4 Jan 2000, an exploration of the relationship between God and Man.  

St Paul's Cathedral's Director of Music, Andrew Carwood, said: "John Tavener’s heartfelt music has given expression to many who are searching for the spiritual in their life. His direct unaffected style has allowed the sacred to take its place at the centre of humanity."

The Revd Canon Michael Hampel, Precentor of St Paul's, added: "We were very sorry to hear of the death of Sir John Tavener. He was well known to us here at St Paul’s and wrote several compositions for acts of worship at the Cathedral. His spiritual depth and faithful observance informed his skill and enhanced his music. Our thoughts are prayers are with Lady Tavener and her family.”