John Tavener

Mahamatar

Mahámátar is written for Oriental or Middle-Eastern female voice, distant boys' voices (in a vast acoustic), tubular bells and muted strings. The music is an invocation to the Great Mother Mahámátar in Sanskrit, and to the Theotóke (God-bearer) in Greek. Originally written to accompany a fi lm by Werner Herzog which deals with South American Indians who travel for many miles on their knees to venerate the miraculous Ikon of The Mother of God of Guadalupe. Mahámátar may be performed by a solo voice or alternatively the melody could be played by a solo cello, with decorations and improvisations by the singer.