This compilation was originally created to celebrate the composers upcoming 70th birthday in January 2014. Instead, it will be released as a tribute to his profound musical voice.
Essential Tavener provides an opportunity to reflect upon Taveners unique composing career which featured some surprising and dramatic spiritual and stylistic changes since the early success of his cantata The Whale in 1968. He was best known for his choral masterpieces such as The Lamb, Funeral Ikos and The Veil of the Temple all featured in this collection.Famously, it was Song for Athene, performed at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997, which secured an international reputation for John Tavener. Alongside the original choral version of the work which opens this album, he later arranged the work for Nicola Benedetti and this is presented as the closing track on this album.
Essential Tavener includes the CD premiere of Mother of God, Here I Stand, taken from the 2006 Alfonso Cuaron film Children of Men soundtrack. The film starred Clive Owen, Michael Caine and Julianne Moore and was nominated for 3 Oscars.

Track Listings:
  1. The Lamb
  2. The Tyger
  3. Song for Athene
  4. Mother of God, Here I Stand
  5. The Dormition of the Mother of God
  6. The Protecting Veil
  7. Today the Virgin
  8. A Hymn to the Mother of God
  9. What God Is We Do Not Know
  10. Funeral Ikos
  11. Threnos
  12. God Is With Us
  13. A Christmas Round
  14. Elizabeth Full Of Grace
  15. Dhyana
  16. Song for Athene