Two hymns written for unaccompanied choir by Tavener. The first is for SAATBBSAATBB double choir and is a setting of a text from the Liturgy of St. Basil. The second is for SSATBBB choir and comes from the Vigil Service of theDormition (or falling asleep) of the Mother of God. She invites the apostles to gather together from the ends of the earth to bury her body in Gethsemane and asks her son to receive the spirit.Two hymns to the Mother ofGod were first performed in December 1985 by the Choir of Winchester Cathedral conducted by Martin Neary. Mother of God also features in the film Philomena starring Judi Dench andSteve Coogan and directed by Stephen Frears.
