Tavener FRAGMENT FOR THE VIRGIN

John Tavener

FRAGMENT FOR THE VIRGIN violin and string orchestra version

CHESTER MUSIC

Fragment for the Virgin was originally written for violin and piano. It was first performed on 6th February 2005, as part of the Music Sales Stradivarius Concert at the Wigmore Hall, London, by Nicola Benedetti (violin) and Alison Rhind (piano).

Duration: c. 4 minutes Violin and piano version on sale Violin and string orchestra version on hire

COMPOSER’S NOTE I wrote Fragment for the Virgin sitting by the port in Carteret in France, on the Feast of the Assumption. It is an intense and passionate prayer to the Virgin, not only as Mother of Christ, but as Mother of the Cosmos. The music should be played at the breaking point of intensity, whether it be fiercely and piercingly loud or infinitely soft.

J.T.

for Nicola to play

FRAGMENT FOR THE VIRGIN John Tavener (2004) = c. 60 With fierce intensity and exaggerated dynamics Solo Violin molto

. port con molto intensità e molto espress.

sim. sempre

Violins I

Violins II

Violas con molto intensità

Cellos

Double Basses

8

4 Solo Vln.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vlc.

D.B.

8

© Copyright 2004 Chester Music Ltd

CH69465

All rights reserved Printed in England

2 8 Solo Vln.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vlc.

D.B.

8

12 Solo Vln.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla. molto

Vlc.

D.B.

8

Very still

A con rubato molto sempre 16 con espress. e dolciss.

Solo Vln.

8

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vlc.

D.B.

8

dolciss. (like a “celestial� gypsy melody)

19 Solo Vln. e con molto espress. sempre 8

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vlc.

D.B.

8

3

4

B

22 Solo Vln.

più 8

Vln. I più

Vln. II più

Vla.

Vlc.

D.B.

8

25 Solo Vln.

8

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vlc.

D.B.

8

e con più intensità

con rubato molto sempre con molto intensitĂ e con molto espress.

C

28 Solo Vln.

sopra

sub.

8

loco

Vln. I sub.

Vln. II sub.

Vla. sub.

Vlc. sub.

D.B.

8

sub.

rit.

32 Solo Vln. poco

poco a poco cresc.

Vln. I poco

poco a poco cresc.

poco

poco a poco cresc.

poco

poco a poco cresc.

poco

poco a poco cresc.

poco

poco a poco cresc.

Vln. II

Vla.

Vlc.

D.B.

8

con molto cresc.

5

molto rit.

6

D A tempo ( = c. 60) t.

por

36 Solo Vln. (cresc.)

molto

sub.

poco a poco cresc.

Vln. I (cresc.)

molto

molto

sub.

poco a poco cresc.

(cresc.)

molto

molto

sub.

poco a poco cresc.

(cresc.)

molto

molto

sub.

poco a poco cresc.

(cresc.)

molto

molto

sub.

poco a poco cresc.

(cresc.)

molto

molto

sub.

poco a poco cresc.

Vln. II

Vla.

Vlc.

D.B.

8

40 Solo Vln. (cresc.)

molto

molto

(cresc.)

molto

molto

(cresc.)

molto

molto

(cresc.)

molto

molto

(cresc.)

molto

molto

(cresc.)

molto

molto

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vlc.

D.B.

8

7

rit.

43 Solo Vln. sub.

poss.

sub.

poss.

sub.

poss.

sub.

poss.

sub.

poss.

sub.

poss.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vlc.

D.B.

8

46

A tempo (very still)

Solo Vln.

8

Vln. I poss.

Vln. II poss.

Vla.

Vlc.

D.B.

8

Manor Farm House Child Okeford 3 October 2004