The work is loosely based on the biblical allegory of Jonah and the Whale, although Tavener admitted that "The 'fantasy' grew and perhaps at times nearly 'swallowed' the biblical text: so the swallowing of Jonah became almost 'literal' in the biblical sense."[1]
The libretto includes the words of an encyclopaedia entry describing certain facts about the whale, and this is contrasted with themes within the music which attempt to portray the reality of the whale itself, whose existence is greater than the sum of all the facts about it.
The Whale has eight sections: I. Documentary, II. Melodrama and Pantomime, III. Invocation. IV. The Storm, V. The Swallowing, VI. The Prayer. VII. In the Belly, and VIII. The Vomiting.
The Apple recording was re-released on record in 1977 on Ringo Starr's label, Ring 'O Records, with a different cover. In 1992 a CD version was released by Apple with the original cover art and libretto. In 2010 the album was once again reissued on Apple Records CD, paired with Celtic Requiem.
whale, tavener, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, whale, tavener, news, newspapers, books, scholar, js. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources The Whale Tavener news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2017 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Whale is a dramatic cantata written by the English composer John Tavener in 1966 The WhaleStudio album by John TavenerReleased25 September 1970 UK 15 November 1970 US Recorded1970GenreClassicalLength31 41LabelAppleProducerMichael BremnerJohn Tavener chronology The Whale 1970 Celtic Requiem 1971 Contents 1 Composition 2 Release 3 Re release 4 ReferencesComposition editThe work is loosely based on the biblical allegory of Jonah and the Whale although Tavener admitted that The fantasy grew and perhaps at times nearly swallowed the biblical text so the swallowing of Jonah became almost literal in the biblical sense 1 The libretto includes the words of an encyclopaedia entry describing certain facts about the whale and this is contrasted with themes within the music which attempt to portray the reality of the whale itself whose existence is greater than the sum of all the facts about it The Whale has eight sections I Documentary II Melodrama and Pantomime III Invocation IV The Storm V The Swallowing VI The Prayer VII In the Belly and VIII The Vomiting Release editIt was premiered at the inaugural concert of the London Sinfonietta under David Atherton at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on 24 January 1968 It was heard again at a Proms concert on 1 August 1969 with the same orchestra and conductor with vocal soloists Anna Reynolds and Raimund Herincx Also featured were Alvar Lidell as narrator and the composer playing pipe and hammond organs In July 1970 The Whale was recorded in Islington London with the same musicians It was released as an album by The Beatles Apple Records label later that year Re release editThe Apple recording was re released on record in 1977 on Ringo Starr s label Ring O Records with a different cover In 1992 a CD version was released by Apple with the original cover art and libretto In 2010 the album was once again reissued on Apple Records CD paired with Celtic Requiem References edit Original liner notes Portals nbsp Classical music nbsp Music Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Whale Tavener amp oldid 1207753913, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
