In Search of the Divine

This book examines the aesthetic philosophies and the compositional approach of two contemporary composers, Arvo Part and John Tavener. They are often associated together for their spiritual approach to composition, and because much of their oeuvre is comprised of sacred choral music. A review of the literature is followed by an analysis of two representative works: Part's Te Deum and Tavener's Ikon of Light. Part's technique of tintinnabuli dictates many of his compositional choices, while Tavener's work reflects balanced, symmetrical structures combined with the manipulation of sonority and silence. While both composers share a similar ethos, their approach and compositions are significantly different when subjected to careful examinatio