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Music Text

Libretto by the composer, drawn from letters and documents of the 16th century (E-L,G-L,Sw-L)

Scoring

2(I,II=picc).2(II=corA).2(I=Ebcl,II=Ebcl,bcl).2(II=dbn)-4.4(III&IV=picc
in F).2.2-timp.perc(5):glsp/t.bells/French cowbell/Japanese jingles/
metal disc/knife(with grinding wheel)/metal & wooden claves/maracas/
wdbl/4tpl.bl/castanet machine/football rattle/ratchet/2tamb/2SD/tab/
TD/3BD/Turkish cym/cyms/3susp.cym/cracked cym/tam-t/coil bell/upright
pft with action removed/hand bells/2church bells/6tuned gongs-harm-harp
-strings; stage orchestra (modern alternatives in brackets):lute(guitar)/
2tenor viols(2vln)/4bass viols(2vla.4vlc)/violone(db)/2s
oprano shawms(2ob)/tab/SD/sopranino recorder(picc)/ co
rnett in C(cl)/bass shawm(dbn)/soprano shawm(=alto shawm)(tpt)/ al
to trbn(tenor trbn)/nakers(timp)/positive organ/regal/12 soldiers' dr
ums; off-stage: descant,treble,tenor,and bass recorders

Abbreviations (PDF)

Publisher

Boosey & Hawkes

Territory
This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes for the world.

Availability
Digital Score
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World Premiere
12/07/1972
Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London
Michael Geliot, director
Conductor: Edward Downes
Company: Royal Opera House

Roles

JOHN TAVERNER Tenor
RICHARD TAVERNER, later ST.JOHN Baritone
CARDINAL, later ARCHBISHOP Tenor
KING Bass
JESTER, later DEATH and JOKING JESUS Baritone
WHITE ABBOT Baritone
PRIEST-CONFESSOR, later GOD THE FATHER Counter-Tenor
BOY Treble
CAPTAIN Bass
ANTICHRIST Tenor (spoken)
GABRIEL, archangel High Tenor
MICHAEL, archangel Deep Bass
2 MONKS Tenors
ROSE PARROW, later VIRGIN MARY Mezzo-Soprano
Council Tenors/Basses
Monks Tenors/Basses
Demons Trebles
Townspeople SATB
Choirboys Trebles (at least 16)
2 Priests, each with a large silver cross Silent roles
2 Laymen, with symbolic pillars Silent roles
2 Soldiers, with pole-axes Silent roles
2 Acolytes, boys Silent roles
A Novice Silent role
Dancers, for the dance of Death
Time and Place

England, 16th Century

Synopsis

by Paul Griffiths

Taverner is on trial before the White Abbot, accused of following the Lutheran heresy. Witnesses are heard, and the chorus comments, but before judgement can be given Taverner is saved by the intervention of the Cardinal (not named as Wolsey), who needs him for his art. Taverner debates for himself the religious meaning of his music, while monks chant. Then the scene shifts from chapel to throne room, where the King is instructing the Cardinal to obtain him a divorce, while both seem to be puppets in the hands of the Jester; the orchestra here is silent, the scene being accompanied by music for Renaissance period ensemble. The Jester, or Death as he becomes, then calls forth Taverner (and the orchestra). Taverner is confused by cheapjack religious stunts, and brought to seize a sword against Catholic iniquities.

The second act is again in four scenes, and is a black version of the first. There is first another trial, nightmarishly accelerated, in which Taverner is now the judge and the White Abbot the accused, the crime this time being that of adhering to the old religion. At the climax a Wheel of Fortune appears, ridden by the Jester. Then comes a second throne room scene, again accompanied by Renaissance instruments, though now in tart parodies of period dances and keyboard pieces that carry the action forward through the sixteenth century. Monarch and churchman discuss the progress of the Reformation, while the Jester revests the latter as an Anglican Archbishop. The second chapel scene has the White Abbot and his monks at mass, while Taverner criticizes himself for his earlier credulity. A captain enters and spills the consecrated wine, whereupon the monks leave, singing an original Benedictus by Taverner. The final scene is then a big choral tableau in which the White Abbot is brought forward for burning at the stake, and in which Taverner becomes aware that he has destroyed the better part of himself.

Moods

Dramatic, Poetic

Subjects
Recommended Recording
cd_cover

Martyn Hill/David Wilson Johnson/BBC Symphony Orchestra/Oliver Knussen
(p) 2009 BBC (c) 2009 NMC Recordings Ltd
NMC D157

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