To A Child Dancing In The Wind

These are the instrumental parts for John Tavener 's To A Child Dancing In The Wind , for Soprano, Flute/Alto Flute, Viola and Harp. The entire work lasts around 30 minutes and sets a number of poems by W.B. Yeats, considered by Tavener as one of the greatest poets of the 20th century. To A Child Dancing In The Wind  was commissioned by the Little Missenden Festival, and first performed on 16th October 1983 at Little Missenden Parish Church. John Tavener is well-known for his extensive catalogue of religious music, but occasionally he was drawn to less overtly sacred sources. The “frailty, tenderness, and spiritual transparency of Yeats’ poetry” inspired this song-cyclefrom 1983 for Soprano, Flute, Harp and Viola. Tavener held Yeats in high regard and was to return to his poems in later works such as Mini Song-Cycle for Gina (1984), A Nativity (1985) and Supernatural Songs (2003). To A Child Dancing In The Wind is dedicated to Tavener’s first wife, Victoria Maragopoulou.