Missa Brevis in memoriam John Paul II

World premiere of

MISSA BREVIS (for mixed choir)
by Sir John Tavener
commissioned by Juventutem

Friday 19th August 2005 8AM, at St Antonius church,

Friesenstraße 81, D-40545 Düsseldorf-Oberkassel (Germany)


During the pontifical mass
celebrated by His Grace Wolfgang Haas, Archbishop of Vaduz,
in the traditional roman rite

Sir John Tavener is one of the greatest living British composers.
Himself an Orthodox, he has dedicated his mass to the late Pope John Paul II.

‘To become Love from the beginning of his life is to remain Love after it’ (Father Cyril)
“These words of Father Cyril were one of the inspirations of my Missa Brevis. Above all, I wanted to create an inner radiance, a radiance that stems both from the life of Pope John Paul II, to the very sound of the voices […].
This Radiance, this Love, can only come from God, and it is through Him that either Love or Radiance can project man outside of himself and time, into eternity.”
Sir John Tavener, 2005

We are most pleased to invite you to that unique musical event in the framework of World Youth Day 2005.

The Juventutem Consort are conducted by Richard Llewellyn, Director of Music.
The organ is played by John McGreal, Titular Organist of the London Oratory.