Discover John Taverner – study afternoon on Christ Church’s first organist–composer

Christ Church has been a home to musical excellence since its foundation. One of its earliest employees was John Taverner, appointed in 1526 as the first Informator choristarum (instructor of the choristers). He quickly established himself as a composer of national significance, and his music survived the strictures of the Reformation to be copied even a century after its composition. More recently, Taverner and his music inspired Peter Maxwell Davies in the composition of orchestral pieces and an opera. Find out about John Taverner: a panel of distinguished scholars give illustrated talks to introduce and discuss his life, his work, his legacy.

Booking via Eventbrite is essential.

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Registration includes refreshments (not lunch): £15; £5 concessions (for University of Oxford staff and alumni, and those over 65); free for students of any institution and those who are unemployed. Proof of eligibility must be presented with your ticket when you visit.

Registration and Session One will take place in the Upper Library.  Refreshments and Session Two will take place in the Research Centre, a short walk across the college. 

Programme

13:30: Registration and exhibition viewing

 14:00: Welcome

 14:15: Session One

• Magnus Williamson (Newcastle University) – Taverner of Boston
• Kerry McCarthy (Independent Scholar) – Taverner, Wolsey, and the art of musical patronage
• Andrew Hope (Independent Scholar) – Taverner and the Oxford ‘Lutherans’ in the 1520s
• Lay clerks of Christ Church Cathedral Choir directed by Peter Holder, selected works by John Taverner.

16:00: Break

16:30: Session Two

• David Maw (Christ Church, Oxford) – ‘not unlike a confused singing of birds’: Taverner’s instrumental legacy
• Nicholas Jones (Cardiff University) – Maxwell-Davies and Taverner
• David Skinner (Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge) in conversation with Kerry McCarthy – Performing Taverner
• Questions and answers with panel discussion.
   

*  We regret that access to the Upper Library is by a large spiral staircase only and may cause difficulty for anyone with limited mobility.

Music has played a central role in the life of Christ Church throughout its history, not least thanks to the work of its world-famous choir established in 1526 with John Taverner as the first Organist and Master of the Choristers. Our festival celebrates the music and musicians who have played and continue to play a role in the life of the College, Cathedral, City and beyond.