Music for a Winter Night: December 5, 2016 at 7:30pm

John Tavener

Tavener’s musical education took place against a modernist backdrop, and the first work that brought him to widespread attention, The Whale (1966), was premiered in 1968 by the London Sinfonietta at their inaugural concert and released on The Beatles’ Apple Records. As the years progressed his music became increasingly spiritual in conception, contemplative in its idiom, and popular with audiences worldwide. Brought up in the Scottish Presbyterian Church, interested in the Catholic faith, he settled in the Orthodox Church in 1977, a major inspiration for his work for the following two decades. From the late 1990s he looked for inspiration from alternative sources by his broad interest in the great religions, embracing Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam and the spirituality of the American Indians. After a period of intense illness, he was also inspired by the works of Tolstoy, Shakespeare, the English Poets and Dante.

Tavener’s work is often intensely beautiful, and often awe-inspiring. His drive to express beauty and truth through music was lifelong, and led him through understandings of many religions and ideologies to produce a unique body of work.

Jonathan Kirkscey

Jonathan Kirkscey is a composer, producer, cellist, and guitarist who regularly performs with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, rock band Mouserocket, and Blueshift Ensemble, a contemporary classical chamber ensemble. A strong background in both classical and popular music has given him a reputation as a very versatile musician.

As a film composer, Jonathan recently scored the documentary “Best of Enemies”, directed by Morgan Neville (20 Feet From Stardom) and Robert Gordon, which premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. His score for “Best of Enemies” earned him the International Documentary Association’s award for best original music in a documentary feature.  He also composed music for the Netflix original documentary series “Chelsea Does”, which premiered at Sundance in January of 2016.

His other feature scores include Mike McCarthy’s “Cigarette Girl”, the documentary “2 Million Minutes: The 21st Century Solution”, Craig Brewer’s debut feature “The Poor and Hungry”, and “Only Child” from director Brian Pera.

He has composed music for both narrative and documentary shorts including “A Fighting Chance” from director Morgan Neville, a documentary short profiling several hopeful Olympic athletes. Other short films include “A Tangible Birthplace”and “The Fatted Calf” from The Soundtrack Project which aired on PBS, and “Bookin,” an award winning short documenting a collaboration combining Jookin, a street dance, and classical ballet. He has also scored advertisements for clients such as Sunbrella, Boys & Girls Club, Columbia University, and Weill Cornell Medical College.

Jonathan has provided arrangements for the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and has had several original pieces for orchestra performed by the MSO. As an arranger and performer he has worked with Cat Power, Al Green, Ra Ra Riot, Smokey Robinson, Johnny Mathis, Steve Jordan, Daniel Johnston, Jay Reatard, North Mississippi Allstars, Lucero, Amy Lavere, Kallen Esperian, and many others. He can be heard playing cello on film soundtracks for The Poor and Hungry, Black Snake Moan, and My Blueberry Nights