Song for Athene - Westminster Abbey Choir

Song for Athene, by John Tavener, Westminster Abbey Choir

"Song for Athene is another elegiac tribute, not, as one might suppose, to the mythological goddess Athene, but to a young family friend, Athene Hariades, half Greek, a talented actress who was tragically killed in a cycling accident. "Her beauty," write Tavener, "both outward and inner, was reflected in her love of acting, poetry, music and of the Orthodox Church." Tavener had heard Athene reading Shakespeare in Westminster Abbey and, rather as in the case of the Little Requiem, conceived the piece after her funeral, lighting on the effective ideas, so touchingly realized, of combining words from the Orthodox liturgy with lines from Hamlet. Between each is a monodic "Alleluia", and, following the example of traditional Byzantine music, the whole piece unfolds over a continuous "ison" or drone.

Song for Athene perfectly exemplifies that inner serenity, purity and radiance which gives Tavener's music its consolatory attraction in troubled times. " Richard Steinitz

The song in this video was recordered at Westminster Abbey in July of 1994, as is why I chose various photographs surrounding London's Westminster Abbey.

Song for Athene was cast heavily into the spotlight on September 6th, 1997. Millions of people, the world over, would hear this piece for the first time as the flag-draped casket of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, was carried out of Westminster Abbey, destined to its final resting place at Althorp, north of London.

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[Phillip Wilcher]

Incredible - it moves mountains for me!

[H0LLYW00DY]

Thank you for your comment. PS:  It moves the same mountains for me too :)

[Tom Sillvester]

the world needs consolation now.

[LadyLeonessa]

Thanks for posting the "Song for Athene." It is incredibly sad and beautiful all at once.I heard it the first time during Princess Diana's funeral. This is the second time I have heard it. I am so glad I found it. I was reminded to look for it while watching Mrs Thatcher's funeral...

[Theluji JAO]

Cette musique me bouleverse, me transporte. Magnifique



[Ludwig Van Beethoven]

R.I.P Princess Diana. An angel like no other in this world of ours...

[hereverydayadventure]

not to mention the basses with that pedal tone!

[hereverydayadventure]

we did this song in my high school. I remember it being extremely difficult, especially for the tenors who have to switch from major to minor so many times.

[revol148]

It was all very strange:even with the distance of almost 16 years - quite what happened to the collective psyche of the country in that week has not (yet?) been fully understood and interpreted.Collective hysteria, mass mourning, "this will change Britain forever" headlines in the newspapers - all very strange.Still this superb piece of music was given a platform so it wasn't all bad!

[ds1868]

Yes, 7 days of hysteria - I was thinking of the funeral date of 6th September. Did anyone do any work?

[revol148]

Diana died August 31st 1997 - the hysteria began there.

[ds1868]

September 1997.

[DEBBY EGARCIA]

bellisima no words