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John Tavener

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Composer

The Resume

    (January 28, 1944-November 12, 2013)
    Born in London, United Kingdom
    Known for his religious works, including 'The Whale' (1968), 'A Celtic Requiem' (1969), 'Akhmatova: Requiem' (1980), 'The Protecting Veil' (1988), 'Ikon of the Nativity' (1991), 'Song for Athene' (1993), 'Fall and Resurrection' (2000), 'The Veil of the Temple' (2002), 'Lament for Jerusalem' (2006) and 'Towards Silence' (2009)
    Composed the operas 'Therese' (1973), 'A Gentle Spirit' (1977) and 'Mary of Egypt' (1991)
    Knighted for services to music (2000)

Why he might be annoying:

    He claimed to be a direct descendent of 16th-century composer John Taverner, but he probably wasn't.
    He lived at home with his mother until he was 40.
    His first marriage broke up in eight months.
    He continued wearing his hair down to his shoulders as his hairline receded.
    He said that we are living 'at the end of the Hindu cycle, the Khali Yuga, therefore one can't expect much from people - and one doesn't get very much from people.'
    Some critics dismissed his later works as 'holy minimalism' and 'simple music for simple people.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    He had Marfan syndrome, which caused repeated health crises.
    After a heart attack, he was completely unresponsive until his wife played Mozart and he started moving his arms as if conducting.
    He recorded for the Beatles' Apple Records label.
    His 'Song for Athene' was performed at Princess Diana's funeral.
    He showed up at a meeting of the Society for the Promotion of New Music and told the members they should listen to 'The Marriage of Figaro,' adding 'At least Mozart knew how to write a vocal line.'
    His advice for composers was that if you could not hear the music in your head as you wrote it, then you shouldn't bother.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 140 Votes: 53.57% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 10 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 9 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 6 Votes: 83.33% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 18 Votes: 83.33% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 189 Votes: 53.44% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 94 Votes: 62.77% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 126 Votes: 65.08% Annoying