John Tavener

摘要

Music never stopped running through John Tavener's head. When he was little, banging out notes on the family piano, it was as elemental as wind and rain. Later, themes would come to him as naturally as leaves to a tree. His exquisite carol-setting of William Blake's "The Lamb" came in 15 minutes, fully formed. Each of the 99 "Beautiful Names" of Allah crystallised into notes as he walked round his garden. The deaths of those close to him brought themes to mind so swiftly, sometimes as he left the funeral, that he came to believe they were parting gifts to him.