Biography
John Tavener was a British composer whose work frequently drew on spiritual and religious themes, particularly after his conversion to Russian Orthodox Christianity in 1977. Born in London in 1944, he studied at the Royal Academy of Music and first gained attention with The Whale (1968), premiered by the London Sinfonietta and released on the Beatles' Apple label.
He wrote the score for the film Children of Men (2006), including the piece 'Fragments of a Prayer' composed specifically for the project. His music also featured in Battle in Heaven (2005). Tavener was knighted in 2000 for services to music and died in 2013.
